Day 4: Wine!

Good morning! I’m writing this from the cafe on board the ship. I don’t have any excursions booked today, so I’m enjoying relaxing and toddling around. May take the tender boat out later and explore the port (Porto Santo Stefano). Right now I’m enjoying a coffee and peanut butter babka and grinning that this is my life, at least for the next few days. 

Yesterday was our second day in Florence and a winery tour. We visited Argentiera Vineyards, just outside our port in a town called Bolgheri. We got the opportunity to walk around part of the town and then visit the winery for a tour to learn how they make the wine and do a tasting. I read Under the Tuscan Sun years ago, and can understand why the writer fell in love with the region. It’s absolutely beautiful, with a charm you don’t get in other places. Some cities you go to in order to sightsee, some you go to in order to breathe. This is definitely a breathing area…..perfect for a long moment on the patio of some restaurant or home just watching the world go by.

The winery we visited was an unexpected treat. The winery I visited while in France was a small, family-run operation in the Alsace region. This was much larger and fancy. Fascinating to see the differences between the two. I also liked the wines better, but that’s just personal preference. We got a good tour of the operation and a sampling of the wines available. 

Finally, tonight was formal night on the ship! I’ve said in a previous post….I really get a kick out of spending the least amount on clothing, but being the most dressed up. Tonight’s dress is available for about $300 at a department store, I found it for $5.99 at Goodwill. I was one of the more dressed up people, but don’t care. When else are you going to be able to get that fancy? A dinner of lobster bisque, filet mignon topped with foie gras, and gelato also certainly didn’t hurt. :) 

And now, the pictures! 

The dress! 

You’ll notice the ladies in the picture are perfectly well-behaved. The gentleman, however…….  Yes, that is Michael in the background pretending to wring my neck. 

You know I had to take more pictures than prom….. 

Scottish couple - dressed for the occasion. So cool!

The view from the winery (and me!). The proximity to the sea - the blue in the above picture - helps the grapes get a specific taste

Stainless steel storage and prep area

Wine storage……

The tasting after the tour. This winery specialized in red wines. We had one Rose, one White, and three Reds to sample. Yes, I took home a bottle…..

Houses in the region had a way to show their wealth…..the longer the driveway and the more trees planted by the driveway, the more rich the household. It makes for a beautiful (and impressive) drive up. 

Bolgheri. Can you imagine living on this street? 

The poet Carducii had family in the area, and is a local hero. His Nonna (grandmother) was born in the area, and they were especially close. The statue is of her and the poem on the sign beside is in honor of her. 

More of the Bolgheri atmosphere. Gorgeous! 

Some of the views in Bolgheri. See what I mean about pretty? 

Tuscany is a winery area, so of course the flower pots are going to reflect that. Wonder how I can do this at home….. 

OOTD: Quickly finding that 65 degrees here is not the same as 65 degrees in Charlotte. Happy walking around in a short sleeved dress (Banana Republic Outlet, clearance) and thrift store scarf. The tote bag was a gift from the cruise line, and it’s been a really helpful addition.