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In the heart of one of the most beloved areas in the world, Radda in Chianti, halfway between two symbols of Italian beauty, Florence and Siena, the Casa Chianti Classico season is beginnning.

It is the ideal meeting place for fans and tourists who want to know and live a Chianti lifestyle. The first ideal stop for those who adventure into the region for the first time and a useful instrument for learning the history and characteristics of Gallo Nero wine, the “Casa” contains a museum.

On the second floor, for a synthesis about the wine, there is a sensory route, “Feeling Chianti Classico”, which in 5 rooms gives a step by step explanation of the tasting of Chianti Classico wine. There are visual, olfactory and tasting sections, as well as a synthetic presentation of the various types of DOCG.

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Complementary to the exhibit is “Millesettecentosedici” (1716), an historic narration about the appelation, which follows a time line and summarizes the evolution of the territory in social-political, agrarian and institutional points of view over the course of the last 301 years, starting with the division of the territory on September 24, 1716.

That was the date that with the edict, “Sopra la Dichiarazione de’ Confini delle quattro regioni Chianti, Pomino, Carmignano e Vald’Arno di Sopra”, Cosimo III de’ Medici defined the borders of the territory.

Chianti Classico is also a way of life which has preserved traditions such as local food– wine, appreciated in all of the world and affirmed as one of the most representative of Tuscany, thanks to some iconic dishes.

At the “casa”, you can also taste Chianti cuisine. The cook, Emi, teaches you her secrets with cooking courses where you will learn to make handmade pasta and biscotti using only local products.

Nearby is the Enoteca with its vast selection of wines from the territory. Curated by Roberta, who studies pairing with the dishes offered by the Bistrot and the Ristorante Al Convento, for a food–wine experience with full immersion in local flavors.

In addition to the daily offering of the convent, there is also a rich program of events including a musical aperitif with Chianti Classico products on Thursdays, ”frizzanti” evenings with fried food and sparkling wine, and dinners accompanied by arias of lyric Opera.

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The restaurant

“Al Convento” proposes a “cucina di collina”.  Open for lunch from Tuesday to Sunday from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, dinner from Tuesday to Saturday from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM. All of the recipes on the menu have roots in the tradition of the territory and use authentic ingredients.

Enoteca wine cafè

As described by its name, it is a place to taste wine thanks to a wide and diversified selection of labels from the territory paired with gourmet snacks. It is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM and on Sunday from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Museum, Chianti Classico

Colors, scents, flavors and wine locations through voluminous installations and videos, animated areas and a tour through the antique cells of the convent tell the story of  Chianti Classico. Guided tours are from Tuesday to Saturday, from 11 AM to 1 PM and 3 PM to 6 PM, 11 AM to 1 PM on Sunday.

Chianti Tellers

Starting in April and for the entire summer season, the cloister of the convent will be animated by the photographic exhibition by Dario Garofalo; a tribute from the Consortium for Chianti Classico wine to the inhabitants of the area, to those who with their daily work have made Chianti famous in the world, to those who every day, in silence, express the historic and socio–cultural identity of the heart of Tuscany.

Scuola di Cucina Lady Pasta & Mr. Wine (reservations are required)

Emi, the cook, teaches authentic Tuscan cuisine. She is ready to reveal all of the secrets of fresh pasta and the most well-known and tasty recipes of the Chianti tradition Courses on wine, ABC Chianti Classico (at least seven people; reservations required) Top experts will hold brief and intense seminars on wines of the territory.  The courses are guaranteed by the consortium of Chianti Classico wine.

Info: www.casachianticlassico.it.

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