More Tuscany, July 2nd to 9th

                                     inspecting Lilliani vines.......

                                         Alex looking at Castellina in Chianti pottery ware...

                 Alex and David with the valley below Castellina in Chianti in the background

                                          ..... lavender and friends

                  Out for a hike and a visit to the neighbouring vineyard to sample their vintage. We are fortunate that Mrs Umilati at Lilliano didn't find out about our expedition to visit the competition.

David posing beside the black rooster (gallo nero in Italian) that appears on the neck labels of many Chianti Classico is the symbol of the Consorzio Chianti Classico, a foundation of producers in the Chianti Classico region. The foundation was founded with the aim of promoting the wines of the region, improving quality and preventing wine fraud.  The three villages of the Lega del Chianti (Castellina in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti and Radda in Chianti, as well as the village of Greve are the only officially recognized producers of Chianti Classico.
 The black rooster (gallo nero) is the official symbol of Chianti Classico.
.......David isn't as yet (officially) recognized as a symbol of Chianti.

                    with the take. Some samples we brought back to Lilliano to for study and comparison. Somebody has to do it.....