Page 60 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

the Verrazano-Narrows ies and enoteche (wine
bridge linking Staten bars) that showcase TRIP HIGHLIGHT
Island to Brooklyn. the best Chianti food 4 Badia a
At the Castello, you and drink. To stock
can choose from a range up on picnic-perfect Passignano
of guided tours, includ- cured meats, the Antica Encircled by cypress
ing a Classic Wine Tour Macellerìa Falorni (www. trees and surrounded by
(1½ hours; adult €18; falorni.it; Piazza Matteotti 71; swaths of olive groves
10am to 3pm Monday to h9.30am-1pm & 3.30-7.30pm and vineyards, the
Friday) and Wine & Food Mon-Sat, from 10am Sun), is 11th-century Badia a
Experience (three hours, an atmospheric butcher’s Passignano (%055 807 12
adult €58; noon Mon- shop-cum-bistro that the 78; www.osteriadipassignano.
day to Friday), which Bencistà Falorni family com; Badia a Passignano)
includes a tasting and have been running since sits at the heart of a
lunch with the estate the early 19th century historic wine estate. It’s
wines. Book ahead. and which specialises run by the Antinoris,
in delicious finocchiona one of Tuscany’s oldest
The Drive » From the Castello and most prestigious
it’s a simple 10-minute drive to briciolona (pork salami winemaking families,
Greve in Chianti. Double back made with fennel seeds
to the SR222 in Greti, turn right and Chianti wine). The and offers a range of
ITALY 3 TUSCAN WINE TOUR
and follow for about 3km. family also run the guided tours, tastings
Enoteca Falorni (p62), and cookery courses.
the town’s top cellar, Most require a mini-
TRIP HIGHLIGHT
where you can sample all mum of four people and
3 Greve in Chianti sorts of local wine. prior booking, but you
The main town in the The Drive » From Greve turn can just turn up at the
Chianti Fiorentino, the off the main through road, Viale estate’s wine shop, La
northernmost of the two Giovanni di Verrazzano, near Bottega (www.osteria
Chianti districts, Greve the Esso petrol station, and dipassignano.com; Badia di
in Chianti has been an head up towards Montefioralle. Passignano; h10am-7.30pm
important wine centre Continue on as the road climbs Mon-Sat), to taste and
for centuries. It has an past olive groves and through buy Antinori wines and
amiable market-town woods to Badia a Passignano, olive oil.
air, and several eater- about 15 minutes away. 54 p63
The Drive » From Badia
a Passignano, double back
towards Greve and pick up
TOP TIP: the signposted SP118 for a
DRIVING IN CHIANTI pleasant 15-minute drive along
the narrow tree-shaded road to
To cut down on driving stress, purchase a copy of Panzano.
Le strade del Gallo Nero (€2.50), a useful map
that shows major and secondary roads and has a
comprehensive list of wine estates. It’s available at 5 Panzano
newsstands across the region. in Chianti
The quiet medieval
town of Panzano is an
essential stop on any

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