Interested in a wine festival?! For those of you in the Florence or Tuscany area Sept 10-12, there is a great local wine festival in Greve In Chianti. http://www.greve-in-chianti.com/en/2010_wine_festival.htm.When my husband and I attended four years ago, there were over 150 wines to try. I think we paid 10 euro and received a very nice festival wine glass and card with 8 or 10 punches for wine tasting. 2 punches for reserves & 1 punch for non-reserves. Got a booklet listing all the wines & the main booth had all the wines. Several wineries had their own booths for tasting & purchase also. Wonderful food there too. Took a bus from Florence that stopped within a block or so from event in Piazza Matteotti. A larger musical group entered the crowd in the piazza at one point in period costumes performed dances with flags. Very cool. My husband and I have hotel reservations right on the Piazza this year's event on Friday and Saturday. We always like meeting up with fellow Americans to hear about their adventures in Italy, so if you plan on attending, maybe we can meet over a glass of Chianti!!
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
39 posts
So glad you hear you had a good time a few years ago!
My husband and I will be staying nearby and are planning on attending on Sunday this year...do many of the vendors speak any English, or should I expect to be randomly tasting wines/eating food as I know VERY LITTLE Italian?
Also - we are considering going to visit Montefioralle during the day as well - have you visited this small town/know much about it?
Posted by
OP
Appleton, WI, USA
19 posts
Most spoke English so you should be fine! In case you want to eat while you're at the festival, we ate at a wonderful restaurant direcly on the opposite end of the piazza from the church. I met an older Italian gentleman last week and he highly recommended the same restaurant!
As far as Montefioralle, I'm working on getting information on some very cool things. I'll share more when I get confirmation!
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
39 posts
Definitely let me know what you find out about Montefioralle!!
Posted by
Boston, MA, USA
262 posts
We will be there as well, looking forward to it
Posted by
Boiceville, NY, usa
4 posts
I'm planning on being there on Sunday, but don't know if it is worth going to during the day...seems like it is an evening affair for the most part-Am I right? Anyone have any more info?
Posted by
OP
Appleton, WI, USA
19 posts
We were there on a Sunday afternoon last time and it we had a lot of fun. So much so that this is the one and only place we are repeating on this vacation. Last time we left about 6 pm to get back to Florence, so I don't know what the evening is like. I do know that the festival gets over at 8pm every evening. That is why we booked urr hotel on the piazza this year without concern of to much voice.
Mindy, I'm still working on Montefioralle. I'm expecting a reponse back today.
Posted by
Boston, MA, USA
262 posts
We will be there on Sunday as well, our first full day in Italy
Posted by
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
712 posts
Hi thanks for the info! I am interested but the website doesn't provide the info I need. Where exactly is the fastival? We will be in Rome, but depending on where it is, do you think it would be worth hoping an express train and spending the evening there?
Thanks for the tip!! I would love to visit this!!
Posted by
Boston, MA, USA
262 posts
It is in Greve which is between Florence and Siena
Posted by
Florence
362 posts
September is wine month in the region - not only Greve has their festival, but also Panzano (usually the third week of the month, Vino al Vino), and Gaiole (usually before both Greve and Panzano).
These events last all day, usually from around 11 AM until 8, 9, or 10 PM.
Montefioralle is really a small village, but the last time I was there in the Spring, the church was all closed up for renovation, which did not seem like it was really being worked on... also - the road was one way at a time, with a light that lets people come and go in either direction. It is tight up there - be careful!
It is very quaint though, with a circular walk around the village.