![\"Vineyard](\"https:\/\/www.vintagetravel.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/shutterstock_382027294.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDon\u2019t rush through Tuscany just to reach Florence, you will be missing something very special. The Chianti region has become synonymous with wine, but it also has other things to offer. The region and its main city of Siena is considered by many to be the real heart of old Tuscany, and as well as the wine it is noted for really authentic rustic wholesome food.<\/p>\n
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This is a fantastic wine region to explore either independently or with organised vineyard tours, where you\u2019ll stop at old farmhouses and traditional villages.<\/p>\n
The \u201cChianti\u201d wine has slowly evolved from its beginnings in 1837 and a recipe created by Barone Ricasoli. In essence it was a blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Malvasia. By 1932 the producers formed a consortium named \u201cChianti Classico\u201d, using the black rooster (\u201cGallo Nero\u201d) as its emblem. In fact, no two Chianti ever taste exactly the same due to variations in processes, but they all taste good!<\/p>\n
Greve\u00a0is considered by many as the gate into Chianti. Its square has been a market place and point of meeting for people from all over the region since the Middle Ages.<\/p>\n
Castles, abbeys and walled villages proliferate in the surrounding landscape and exploring the beautiful countryside is a really pleasurable way to spend a holiday.<\/p>\n
Another place that is definitely worth a visit is Radda in Chianti.\u00a0 It was the\u00a0headquarters of the Chianti League,\u00a0as well as the base for the Florentine governor, who lived in the beautiful 15th century\u00a0Palazzo del Podest\u00e0.<\/p>\n
At the beginning of June, a \u201cRadda nel bicchiere\u201d, a wine tasting extravaganza, takes place where more than 20 local producers show their wines to the public.<\/p>\n
Make sure you eat plenty of good Italian food, particularly bread, to soak up all the free samples!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Don\u2019t rush through Tuscany just to reach Florence, you will be missing something very special. The Chianti region has become synonymous with wine, but it also has other things to offer. The region and its main city of Siena is considered by many to be the real heart of old Tuscany, and as well as<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":5979,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[66],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-things-to-do-in-tuscany"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n