Weds, Oct 21: Montalcino

Came down with a bad cold last night so did not sleep much and feeling pretty rotten. In spite of fairly nice roads and beautiful countryside, it was, therefore, a difficult day. We were out of the hotel by 9 am and on the road to the Montalcino area, home of Rosso de Montalcino wines, made with a slightly larger species of the San Giovese grape. There were beautiful vineyards and plowed fields and lovely old farm buildings along our route, When we started out, you could look back and see Montalcino on the top of the hill in the distance.

We were again following one of the routes in the Via Francigena netwok.

We stopped periodically for bits of history and culture. Farm houses were fort-like in structure because of the constant threat of attack.

There are differing opinions on the value of planting roses at the end of rows of vines. Where I grew up in California, I learned that roses were early indicators of wet conditions that could lead to mold/ mildew. Here people use them to alert them to the need to treat for bugs.

This was definitely working agricultural land as we could often tell from the smell (even with a stuffy nose :-) and an occasional tractor

We had another wonderful lunch made with local produce, meats, bread, olive oil, and, of course, wine. The local style of pasta is called pici, a thck rolled strand that offers twisty curls for the various sauces to cling to.

After lunch we went for an abbreviated walk around this lovely walled town as the weather has turned quite cold. 

We have a nice room on the top floor of our hotel, with expansive views of countryside below. Will get some pictures of that in the morning. For now, Anne and I will drag ourselves out for a light supper and make it an early night. Anne has also come down with a cough, so not a particularly lively pair :-(