Tenuta Torciano: Taste Tuscany's Best Wines and Foods

It isn't a question of what my favorite part of Italy is — it's a question of what my favorite parts are. One of them is Florence and the Tuscany region: the scenery, the people, the history, and of course the wine and food.

Whenever we took a Traveling Professor small-group tour to Florence and Tuscany, we always made sure to head out into the countryside. That meant a stop at a winery, and a hilltop village like San Gimignano, looking out over vineyards and olive trees.

One of my fondest memories, shared by many of our travelers, is our visit to Tenuta Torciano, a family-owned vineyard a short distance from San Gimignano, a little under an hour's drive from Florence. It was a first-class experience from the start: a sprawling farm, with tastings held in a well-adorned conservatory. We always like to pair the tasting with the lunch program.

Il pranzo

What's on the table

It starts with salamis and cheeses, served on fine Tuscan dinnerware, plus a bruschetta that's a real treat. The first course is usually home-made lasagna or the traditional Tuscan bean and bread soup called ribollita. My main-course favorite is the traditional Tuscan roasted meat with those delicious potatoes.

All the while, our hostess is pouring elegant glasses and telling the charming stories behind the wine collection. Most of the Traveling Professor's clients gave high praise to the Brunello. Personally, I say "Bravo" to the selections of Chianti Classico and Montepulciano, and there were generous, well-appreciated pours of Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah too.

Did I forget dessert? Not me — it was cantucci, the Tuscan almond cookies, with dessert wine. And we weren't done yet: there was also a sampling of olive oils and perhaps some of the best balsamic vinegars to be found in all of Tuscany.

San Gimignano

Worth the short drive

By the time it's all over, it's an effort to take the short drive up the hill to San Gimignano. But once you get there, it's worth it: a charming medieval stone city on top of a hill, a wonderful place for a stroll, shopping and taking in the Tuscan scenery.

So how can you bring some of this Tuscan experience home? Tenuta Torciano makes it easy to order their best wines, olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Visit their website for a full description of the products they offer — they'll ship a piece of Italy right to your home.