Vendemmia Season is Here

Fall is in the air and the harvest crush is underway. The vendemmia is the fall grape harvest, an exciting time to be in the wine regions of Italy, particularly Chianti.  Chianti wine comes from Chianti region of Tuscany and is a blend of San Giovese, Malvasia, Trebbiano and Canaiolo grapes. We often have guests ask us when to book in order to be in Tuscany for the vendemmia. While it's hard to predict the exact dates the grape harvest will start since it depends on the grapes reaching their peak of ripeness and that can vary by vineyard, is usually late September and early October. At that point, wine growing families throughout the region focus all their attention on getting the grapes off the vine and processed. If you are driving through Tuscany, you may find yourself stuck behind tractors, trucks and tankers moving the grapes and the newly pressed wine around. Stop into a farm that offers wine tasting and while sipping inhale the heady smell of the wine beginning to ferment and "boil" as it gives off gasses. By mid-October you'll often start to see restaurants proudly advertising that the "Chianti Nuovo" or New Chianti is available. Just around the corner is the olive harvest...more to come on that soon.