travelingbooklover On The Way Up

Joined: 12 Apr 2008 Location: Kuwait Posts: 224
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 12:23 pm Post subject: Sunset over the lake |
|
Sun setting over the lake in Tuscany.
Some more pics of surrounding area.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Sjoerd Enlightened One

 Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Location: West - Friesland Posts: 2530 PlantStew: 93 |
|
| Back to top |
|
petunia Highly Skillful

 Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: northern michigan Posts: 1554 PlantStew: 165 |
| Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 12:48 pm Post subject: |
|
Love the sunset. May I ask-Whats that in the field? My first guess would be some kind of grape vines, though its hard to tell.
_________________ Petunia
|
|
| Back to top |
|
toni Mistress of Garden Junque

Moderator
Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Location: North Texas (Map) Posts: 5492 PlantStew: 521 |
| Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 12:52 pm Post subject: |
|
Such beautiful scenery. The shot of the lake is very relaxing to look at and dream about.
Petunia, yes those are grape vines. That area produces some very fine wines.
_________________ "Blossom by blossom the spring begins."
Algernon Swinburne (1837-1909)
"A little Madness in the spring, is wholesome even for the King."
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
|
|
| Back to top |
|
travelingbooklover On The Way Up

Joined: 12 Apr 2008 Location: Kuwait Posts: 224
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:28 pm Post subject: |
|
Yes, they are grapevines. The villa we stayed in was on an olive producing estate that was surrounded by vineyards. The area is known for its wines. We went to two wine festivals- the biggest ones for the year. If you plan on visiting the area and you enjoy wine, you have to plan your trip for September. It is well worth it. Greve-in-Chianti has theirs on the second weekend of September. (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). It is the larger of the two wine festivals. You pay 10 euro and receive a souvenier wine glass (very pretty) and a cloth carrier for the glass that can hang from your neck. You also receive a little notebook with info about each wine and the vineyards. It also has room to make notes on your tastings and contact info for all the producers. You also receive a punch card. It allows you to taste from 8 different stands. There are many vineyards so you can go back each day and taste new ones. We wound up buying from many of them. Unfortunately, we had to drink them during vacation or send them back to the US as Kuwait is a "dry" country. There are trattorias, little shops, etc all around the square so you can stop and eat. (Or stop and people watch.) There is live music and it is a wonderful festival. Well worth planning your trip around. The second one is on the third weekend in September (Thursday- Sunday) and is in Panzano. The wineglass, cloth carrier and paperwork is a little more expensive- I can't remember if it was 15 or 20 euro. Panzano's festival is a little smaller. Still enjoyable.
We learned a lot more about wines and met new friends. I highly reccomend this area for a vacation, especially Greve. (Both Greve and Panzano are part of the Chianti region.)
Most vineyards have specific times for visiting, tasting, etc. I could spend weeks doing that. Same goes for the olive producers. I am a super huge fan of olive oil and this region has the absolute best. (In my humble opinion.) Our trips to Italy are stock up trips for me- I bring back as much olive oil, cheeses and meats as possible. If wine was allowed, that would be coming back with me as well. I always have to remember to allow for being abused by the airport with their overweight luggage fines.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Droopy Slug Slaughterer
 Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Location: Western Norway (Map) Posts: 4717 PlantStew: 5671 |
| Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:40 pm Post subject: |
|
Lovely photos! The area looks very scenic and serene.
*note to self* Leave children at home if visiting Tuscany vineyards, because I'll probably be tipsy most of the time!
_________________ The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
-Bertrand Russell
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Gardengirl On The Way Up

 Joined: 25 Sep 2008 Location: Hertfordshire,UK Posts: 204 PlantStew: 115 |
| Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:20 pm Post subject: |
|
Lovely photos. Especially like the one of the lake, so peaceful.
_________________ Whenever I feel low I head for the garden.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
toni Mistress of Garden Junque

Moderator
Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Location: North Texas (Map) Posts: 5492 PlantStew: 521 |
| Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:49 pm Post subject: |
|
There are several vineyards in Texas that make really good wine, I have been thinking we need to take vacation next year and tour the state sampling them all. Closest I will ever come to a wine tour in Tuscany.
_________________ "Blossom by blossom the spring begins."
Algernon Swinburne (1837-1909)
"A little Madness in the spring, is wholesome even for the King."
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Public Designs On The Way Up

Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Location: ohio Posts: 100
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:27 am Post subject: |
|
Really picturesque scenery! I really enjoyed the pictures. I can almost smell the grapes growing on those vines! I have always wanted to try my hand at growing grapes but have not gotten brave enough to do so.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
glendann Official Garden Angel
 Joined: 19 May 2006 Location: Texas (Map) Posts: 6919 PlantStew: 219 |
| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:29 am Post subject: |
|
That is a beautiful sunset.Thank you for the wonderful post.
_________________
Live today to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Biita Arctic-ally Challenged Forager
 Joined: 31 Oct 2007 Location: Norway (Map) Posts: 1786
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 6:19 am Post subject: |
|
beautiful pics!! I would love to visit Tuscany. But if i did i would have to find someone to go with me, my husband is not a wine drinker. Altho the meat and cheeses might intrest him.
I do have to say that America and Australia is giving Italy and France a run for their money so to speak. I have had some superb wines from both places that i have passed up the wines from Italy and France. But still Tuscany would be worth it just for the atmosphere of all that old culture there.
_________________ If you don't have faith in what you believe, then don't believe at all.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|