Under the Tuscan Sun: Join me for some Chianti, and/or pack your bags?

s you might recall, I really enjoyed hosting culinary and wine tours in the years just before the pandemic, and have thought to myself, "Self, why aren't I still doing those?" I truly love to travel, especially with open-minded, spontaneous, and interesting people. Frankly, I miss it. So there's only one thing left to say... Let's pack our bags!

I'm putting four trips on the books for 2026 for your consideration (see the details below my signature). These will be small affairs, limited to just 7-8 people, but organized as insider tours that will make stops at our favorite wineries (like the one below), restaurants, roadside attractions, and my new love--olive oil mills (more on that soon). Each tour will cover parts of 7 days and 6 nights, and I'll take care of everything for you from the moment you arrive at the starting gate.

But first, let's explore Chianti Classico a little bit...

Plugging the address of Poggio al Sole into the rental car GPS is useless. "Address not found" is the result. Thankfully, Kathrin and Johannes Davaz provide actual latitude and longitude coordinates on their website. Otherwise one will never make their appointment. From Tavarnelle Val di Pesa one drives on single lane roads past olive orchards, oak forests, and vineyards, alongside the famous (and fantastic) Badia di Passignano and to the end of the road. One then turns left onto a small dirt road and continues another 3km or so and finally arrives at the winery.

Then, one never wishes to leave.

The Davaz' arrived 33 years ago, fresh from enology school, with Johannes' family having recently acquired the property from near abandonment. Over that time they have laboriously and painstakingly restored the schiste-rich vineyards, the 16th-century house (a former abbey), and created a fantastic winery.

This is the heart of Chianti Classico, arguably one of the top 3 or 4 vineyard sites in the entire denomination (not by way of my opinion, but that of the region's top consulting enologist). In fact, their property is surrounded on virtually all sides by vineyards that are farmed, or belong to, the famous Antinori family. Poggio al Sole is one of only two independent wineries in all of Tavarnelle Val di Pesa. Antinori makes the rest.

Chianti has come a long way from its days wrapped in wicker baskets. Additionally, the quality work being done to return the region to its early 20th century glory by winemakers like the Davaz is incomparable.

Poggio al Sole

Chianti Classico 2023

This is, simply put, a wonderful bottle of Sangiovese. I've been a fan of Poggio al Sole wines for years, and when I first tasted this beauty with Sébastien last summer, directly from barrel, I knew it was a wine to keep an eye on. The vintage was unusually hot, and dry during harvest. Overall yield was way down and as such, concentration was way up. I would call this one "succulent and rich," with an enticing perfumed floral nose. The addition of about 5% Merlot adds plumpness and color, integrating beautifully with the Sangiovese.

I hope you'll give this lovely wine a try.

Thanks so much for reading along, and for all your support over the years. Hope to tip a glass with you somewhere again soon, maybe at Poggio al Sole, or during one of my 2026 tours below. You can reply to this email either way!

Big hugs,

Dan