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Europe help - 8/6/2008 10:35:22 AM

zitarell

Posts: 26
Joined: 7/1/2008
Status: offline

In a few weeks, my wife and I will be flying to Europe for vacation. While we have a skeleton of an itinerary (we know where we'll be sleeping each night), we are still trying to flesh out our trip with daily activities. I'm hoping many of those activities can be wine- or food-related, and I'm wondering if members of the European contingent on the board might be willing to provide some suggestions.

I'm looking for tips on wineries, restaurants, or just about anything really. Most of my wine-drinking to date has been centered on Washington state, so I see this trip as an opportunity to greatly expand my knowledge/appreciation of old-world wine.

Here is where we will be staying:
Aug 29-31: Paris
Sep 1-3: Saint-Hilaire-du-Rosier
Sep 4-6: Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée
Sep 7-9: Lucca
Sep 10-12: San Gimignano
Sep 13: London

Thanks!
Paul Z

Post #: 1

RE: Europe help - 8/6/2008 1:06:37 PM

Maestro

Posts: 560
Joined: 10/4/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: zitarell
Sep 7-9: Lucca

Lucca is a good base for visiting Chianti. These are the Chianti sub-regions and you can see how they relate to Lucca:

While you are in the Chianti region you might want to visit the largest Enoteca of the region, which is Le Cantine di Greve in Chianti. There you can taste wine, cheese, salame, grappa, and olive oil, and they have a wine musuem. They usually have over 140 wines to taste.

As for the vineyards in Chianti, it depends on which producers you like. Castello di Verrazzano and Volpaia are pretty and well-organized.

If you are going to buy Chianti Classico, buy the 2006 vintage. I am soon going to write a posting on it. It is the best Chianti vintage ever. (And I mean it.)

Also, if you (a) are going to visit Florence, (b) want to have your socks knocked off, and (c) are not travelling on a budget, then visit Enoteca Pinchiorri over there.

quote:

ORIGINAL: zitarell
Sep 10-12: San Gimignano

Well, you could visit smaller areas, but why not drive 90 minutes and go straight to the crown jewel-- Montalcino?

It is a small town, easy to walk around, full of small Enotecas and Restaurants, and very pretty. From Montalcino you can visit virtually all the Brunello producers. Try to book a visit to Castello Banfi. It is the largest property, with a good infrastructure, and very pretty. On your way down from Montalcino you may want to visit Fattoria dei Barbi, do a quick tour of their Cantina (wine cellars), and then have lunch or dinner at the restaurant they have inside the property (book in advance).

If you are going to buy Brunello, buy 2001 (the 2004 is great , but not yet released).

If you want more suggestions let me know.

(in reply to zitarell)

Post #: 2

RE: Europe help - 8/6/2008 1:12:38 PM

cgrimes

Posts: 906
Joined: 10/8/2007
From: Massachusetts
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Maestro

quote:

ORIGINAL: zitarell
Sep 7-9: Lucca

There you can taste wine, cheese, salame, grappa, and olive oil,

Throw in some bread and those are the only things I need to live on.

(in reply to Maestro)

Post #: 3

RE: Europe help - 8/6/2008 1:25:39 PM

Serge Birbrair

Posts: 1544
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: online

quote:

ORIGINAL: cgrimes

Throw in some bread and those are the only things I need to live on.

only if you bring it from France, bread in Italy sucks!

_____________________________

Do you really think you understand terroir!? -

(in reply to cgrimes)

Post #: 4

RE: Europe help - 8/6/2008 8:55:11 PM

drphil

Posts: 9
Joined: 7/20/2007
From: Greeley, CO
Status: offline

You will greatly enjoy Lucca, but you might also consider a day trip to the Cinque Terre along the Ligurian coast. The five villages are great fun to visit, but the dry white wines of the area are also quite enjoyable (and not easily found outside the area itself). It would be difficult to do all five villages on a day trip (milk train from Riomaggiore at the South to Monterosso at the North), but you would get a great feel for the wines with stops at Corniglia (spend an hour or so at Il Pirun Enoteca (with photo) and a few more in Monterosso at Enoteca da Eliseo with a meal at Ciak.

(in reply to zitarell)

Post #: 5

RE: Europe help - 8/7/2008 6:27:26 AM

Wrighty

Posts: 768
Joined: 10/3/2005
From: Hong Kong
Status: offline

Have been doing some research on Paris for later in the month and found this site useful for Paris wine bars http://www.wineterroirs.com/ (Thanks Paul - hoping to get to Racines and Le Verre Volé). There was also a recent article in Decanter about http://www.ilvinobyenricobernardo.com/ which has been set up by a previous World's Best Sommelier and the food is based on the wine choice.

I also really liked this place in London, more food than wine http://www.herefordroad.org/ we'd been to J Shakey's the night before and Hereford Road was better and considerably cheaper. I think Selfridges also still has the wine bar with tastings pours of top wines but am not sure.

Sounds like a great trip, living in Asia we really enjoy [returning] to Europe whenever we can; the food, wine and pace is perfect for holidays.

Wrighty

(in reply to drphil)

Post #: 6

RE: Europe help - 8/7/2008 7:34:06 AM

zitarell

Posts: 26
Joined: 7/1/2008
Status: offline

Great responses so far; thanks to all!

(in reply to Wrighty)

Post #: 7

RE: Europe help - 8/7/2008 7:39:51 AM

pjaines

Posts: 921
Joined: 5/26/2008
From: London
Status: online

quote:

ORIGINAL: Wrighty

Have been doing some research on Paris for later in the month and found this site useful for Paris wine bars http://www.wineterroirs.com/ (Thanks Paul - hoping to get to Racines and Le Verre Volé). There was also a recent article in Decanter about http://www.ilvinobyenricobernardo.com/ which has been set up by a previous World's Best Sommelier and the food is based on the wine choice.

I also really liked this place in London, more food than wine http://www.herefordroad.org/ we'd been to J Shakey's the night before and Hereford Road was better and considerably cheaper. I think Selfridges also still has the wine bar with tastings pours of top wines but am not sure.

Sounds like a great trip, living in Asia we really enjoy [returning] to Europe whenever we can; the food, wine and pace is perfect for holidays.

Wrighty

Wrighty, glad you liked the recommendation of the website. I think anyone who basically spends their life getting hammered on wine in the name of 'informing' his website users should be encouraged.

_____________________________

-- Paul

(in reply to Wrighty)

Post #: 8

RE: Europe help - 8/8/2008 9:31:59 AM

Wrighty

Posts: 768
Joined: 10/3/2005
From: Hong Kong
Status: offline

If there's money involved makes you think it might be worth the effort (to write/blog) otherwise I'm sure getting hammered is more fun if you know you haven't got to write about it - does that make me lazy/selfish? On the other hand, I'm glad someone makes the effort, feel the Paris trip will be so much the better for it. Have also booked at Il Vino so looking forward to the wines but think I'll skip the 1000 Euro menu - unless the wife encourages it!

Wrighty

(in reply to pjaines)

Post #: 9

RE: Europe help - 8/28/2008 12:17:33 PM

zitarell

Posts: 26
Joined: 7/1/2008
Status: offline

Thanks again to everyone for the suggestions! We fly from Seattle to Paris tonight, and I definitely plan to use these tips.

I have been doing more lurking than posting lately as my summer internship came to a busy end, but once I return in mid-September, it will be back to grad-school and lots of time for wine talk.

- Paul Z

(in reply to Wrighty)

Post #: 10