Yesterday was a good day. The very best so far. I didn't
break out my sundress or abandon my jacket but it barely drizzled on us once
and was otherwise partly cloudy and breezy but nice. This break in the weather
was welcome for many reasons: we were growing weary of freezing, it was Faye and
Robin's last day in Umbria, and Sunday was the Cantine Aperte.
Cantine Aperte is a festival day throughout Umbria when some 57 wineries open their doors for wine tasting, food tasting and music. You buy your glass (proceeds to charity) at your first cantina and carry it in a convenient hands-free pouch/purse everywhere you go. The night before Robin and I plotted out a course to take in 8 wineries between here and Montefalco with our first stop here near Todi at Roccafiori at 11am. We were some of the first visitors knocking on their doors to enjoy chocolate and jam tastings, free pizza and sausages along with a sampling of wines. So we had nearly recouped the 5 euro glass price and we had only just begun!
After that every cantina was different. One with scenic views and a dj playing swing and jazz. Another in an industrial park with a decidely biker dude crowd. Some with free food tastings, others with food for sale, one with peculiar little games, but all of them with wine. Here's a photo of us at one of our stops. Somebody's glass is empty but I guarantee you that it did not stay that way for long!
The views were spectacular as we traveled along especially driving along the ridge where we could see Todi off to the west and the snow-capped mountains off to the east.
Coming up on what we thought was closing time at 6p we headed to our last stop that turned out to be a warehouse on a main road in an industrial area. We were almost inclined to skip it and head home.....but of course we had our glasses handy and we were there already and we needed a bathroom anyway so we figured what the heck. What a surprise. The people were friendly and exceptionally generous with their wine and crackers. And there was a little band of sorts setting up in the parking lot near a bunch of picnic tables. As is typical here they sang all, old, American songs accompanied by guitars and a flute (not so typical) and everybody was having a grand old time - us included.
So it turned out to be a fitting end to a lovely day.
Cantine Aperte is a festival day throughout Umbria when some 57 wineries open their doors for wine tasting, food tasting and music. You buy your glass (proceeds to charity) at your first cantina and carry it in a convenient hands-free pouch/purse everywhere you go. The night before Robin and I plotted out a course to take in 8 wineries between here and Montefalco with our first stop here near Todi at Roccafiori at 11am. We were some of the first visitors knocking on their doors to enjoy chocolate and jam tastings, free pizza and sausages along with a sampling of wines. So we had nearly recouped the 5 euro glass price and we had only just begun!
After that every cantina was different. One with scenic views and a dj playing swing and jazz. Another in an industrial park with a decidely biker dude crowd. Some with free food tastings, others with food for sale, one with peculiar little games, but all of them with wine. Here's a photo of us at one of our stops. Somebody's glass is empty but I guarantee you that it did not stay that way for long!
The views were spectacular as we traveled along especially driving along the ridge where we could see Todi off to the west and the snow-capped mountains off to the east.
Coming up on what we thought was closing time at 6p we headed to our last stop that turned out to be a warehouse on a main road in an industrial area. We were almost inclined to skip it and head home.....but of course we had our glasses handy and we were there already and we needed a bathroom anyway so we figured what the heck. What a surprise. The people were friendly and exceptionally generous with their wine and crackers. And there was a little band of sorts setting up in the parking lot near a bunch of picnic tables. As is typical here they sang all, old, American songs accompanied by guitars and a flute (not so typical) and everybody was having a grand old time - us included.
So it turned out to be a fitting end to a lovely day.
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