Moving further south, we visited the walled hill top town of Montalcino; Bagno Vignoni, a small village famous for its natural hot springs and spa's; rode through the postcard Val d'Orcia before arriving at our final destination Villa Grazianella and the wine estate of Fattoria Del Cerro (Farmhouse on the Hill) for a weekend enjoying amazing food and wines. Kicking this off on night one with an amazing meal and accompanying wines all of the chef's choice. The next day after a nice stroll around the grounds of the villa and a little dip in the pool, we enjoyed a tour of the wine house, seeing how the whole process from grape to bottle before sitting down for another generous tasting session.
Eventually this trip had to come to a close, and we had three days in front of us which was allow for another day in the Alps, but Mother Nature had other ideas! With heavy rains hitting as we approached the Alps, also the early snowfalls on the high passes of the Western Alps, we changed plans, put on our waterproofs for the first time on the trip, crossed 'under' the Alps via the Frejus Tunnel (uneventful but effective) making it to Lyon as the rain stopped. The next day was dry, so we just headed for home!
Italy, especially Tuscany, has left us with many wonderful memories.
Leaving Paolo's to head south.
Montalcino
Montalcino
Santuario della Madonna del Soccorso, Montalcino
Montalcino
Bagno Vignoni
A interesting statement piece!
Villa Grazianella
Our first evening at we enjoyed a meal with chosen wines by the chef! All rather good!
Villa Grazianella
Villa Grazianella
Views around Villa Grazianella & Fattoria Del Cerro
Views around Villa Grazianella
Villa Grazianella & Fattoria Del Cerro
Views around Villa Grazianella & Fattoria Del Cerro
Villa Grazianella & Fattoria Del Cerro
Villa Grazianella & Fattoria Del Cerro
Vines
with their lush crop!
Views around Villa Grazianella & Fattoria Del Cerro
Views around Villa Grazianella & Fattoria Del Cerro
The rain did arrive whilst we were swimming - oh well, never mind eh!!
Apero time!
Apero time and reflection on the trip!
Villa Grazianella & Fattoria Del Cerro
Villa Grazianella & Fattoria Del Cerro
Villa Grazianella & Fattoria Del Cerro
Views around Villa Grazianella & Fattoria Del Cerro
A tour of the cellars of Fattoria Del Cerro
A tour of the cellars of Fattoria Del Cerro
A tour of the cellars of Fattoria Del Cerro
A tour of the cellars of Fattoria Del Cerro
Our second and last night - well, a light meal (not) with more amazing wines!
more amazing wines from the Fattoria Del Cerro estate!
Time to head home!
As we closed in on the Alps the rains arrived! The RT is brilliant for keeping most of the rain off, but only if you can keep moving, so we got into our waterproofs and just pushed on! We passed through alps via the Frejus Tunnel and rolled into Lyon for a late supper and hotel.
Lyon - Seeing the sun on Saturday morning was nice, but the forecast was for more Rain on Sunday, so home bound we were!
We made Bethune in Northern France in good time....
.... so rewarded ourselves with a final holiday toast to a cracking trip!
A train carriage all to ourselves, now just an hour or so to home!
Camera kit: - Canon EOS M6 + EF-M 22mm & EF85mm (with adapter) Lens; DJI Mini 3 Pro drone, and an old iPhone.