Leaving Florence, after a little over an hour’s drive, we reached the village of Bargino, where the Antinori family’s impressive estate is located. This is not a traditional winery: the building almost completely blends into the hillside, and the roof is covered with vines. As our friends and I entered the monumental, spiral staircase, we immediately felt that winemaking here is more than agriculture – it is pure art.
The family’s history is quite impressive. More than 800 years: The first mention dates back to 1180, and the family joined the Florentine winemakers’ guild (Arte dei Vinattieri) in 1385, when Giovanni di Piero Antinori began working in wine. The 26th generation is now running the empire, led by Marchese Piero Antinori and his three daughters.
They were the ones who, in the 1970s, went against strict local regulations and started blending international grape varieties (such as Cabernet Sauvignon) with local Sangiovese. This created the now world-famous “Super Tuscan” category.
My personal favorite is the Chianti Classico. It is a fruitier, more accessible, yet classic Chianti that perfectly captures the character of the region.
It is rare to find a moment when world-class gastronomy and good company come together in such perfect harmony. Although we would have liked to have stayed there all day, the afternoon sun already signaled that it was time to leave. We got back in the car in a slightly elevated mood to continue our journey south towards the medieval towers of Siena.
