Who doesn’t love a glass of Chianti? Synonymous with slow Tuscan living all around the world, Chianti pairs with just about anything delicious: a grazing board, pasta, pizza and a quintessential T-bone. Now you can try these combinations for yourselves and celebrate the world-famous Tuscan wine during Chianti Lovers Week in Florence and surrounding towns from May 5 to 11.
Hot on the heels of Chianti Lovers, the wine showcase previewing the latest vintages styled around Valentine’s Day every year, now the Chianti Wine Consortium is organizing seven days of 40-plus tastings, cellar tours and cultural events around the Tuscan capital. While restaurants and wine bars are organizing their own occasions throughout the week, on Thursday May 8, the consortium is directly holding a Wine & Cinema Experience at The Stellar, which will involve a tasting masterclass alongside the projection of iconic film scenes in which Chianti is the star. On Saturday May 10 the public will have a unique opportunity to join a guided tour and tastings around the former Sant’Orsola monastery, which is currently undergoing redevelopment after many years of being derelict.
The Chianti Lovers Closing Party at Manifattura Tabacchi on Sunday, May 11 is set to feature top street food, a vintage DJ set with La Màquina Parlante and dancers from Studio Swing 22 Firenze. Entrance (18 euro) includes a special Chianti Lovers glass and holder as well as Chianti tastings galore. The grand finale is at the Visarno Racecourse, as 100 drones are set to light up the Florentine sky at 10.30pm on May 11.
“With Chianti Lovers Week we want to showcase our wine in a new way, getting away from the usual institutional setup to meet people in the places that they go to every day,” explains Giovanni Busi, president of Consorzio Vino Chianti. “On the one hand, it’s certainly a joyful atmosphere. On the other hand, it’s also a way of displaying confidence in the liveliness of our local area and the culture surrounding wine that never stops evolving, without losing sight of our roots. During this week, Chianti will be everywhere: nearby, accessible and sharable. Just the way we like it!”
