2. Rabbits, A Painter, and The Springs of LE FONTI of Panzano

2. Rabbits, A Painter, and The Springs of LE FONTI of Panzano

Have you ever noticed that rarely do you see ANIMALS on a wine label?  One of the first wine labels from a chianti winery that caught my eye was a label dominated by a watercolor painting of… a rabbit, on a label from a winery in Chianti called Le Fonti , meaning “the springs” , from the 5 springs that dot the hillside of their steep property in a town of just over 1000 inhabitants called Panzano in Chianti , about 45 minutes outside of Florence, at the top of a winding hill.   http://fattorialefonti.it/prodotti/igt-la-lepre/ [http://fattorialefonti.it/prodotti/igt-la-lepre/]

1. Chianti Adventures on a Vespa

Are you missing Italy and looking to connect somehow to that wondrous place of your dreams, to feel like you are zooming around Chianti on a Vespa, aimlessly navigating the winding hills of Tuscany, stopping to sip wine under the shade of cypress trees and hear the stories behind the fascinating people, wineries, wine labels, and legends of this magical land?  Living here the past 15 years, I’ve sped around every single one of these Chianti roads on my Vespa, accumulating 50,000 km…and a few extra pounds along the way, passing so many glorious Chianti days immersed in bella Toscana…and I want to help you feel like you are right here with me. I’ve often looked at Chianti wine labels and thought: what exactly goes into crafting these fascinating labels?  What moment in time does it capture, what struggle, joy, history, and dreams does it convey?  But the real story isn’t really about the label, is it?  It’s about the people involved in making this wine…the characters, the families, the leaps of faith, the adversity, and the endless evenings enjoying the fruits of their labors.     By my count, there are around 400 winemakers who make a version of Chianti classico, and I’m on a mission to see them all.  So grab that extra helmet from under the seat, hop aboard, and join me, as we explore the stories behind My Favorite Chianti Wine Label.   These are the stories of those who live, breathe, drink, and work this paradise called Chianti every day.   Now go to www.myfavoritechiantiwinelabel.com [http://www.myfavoritechiantiwinelabel.com] to subscribe and stay up to date for our next Tuscan adventure.