Marinna Ventures to Italia: Donatella Cinelli Colombini...In Other Words The Winery We Toured in Montalcino Toscana

This week definitely got away from me! It went by so fast! Hard to believe that I already have been here over two weeks! Still amazed at how fast time flies here! I think the siesta in the afternoons make the days go quicker! But that could be only because I take full advantage of it!

Anyways, I am finally catching you all up on the winery! It was an awesome place! Sunday morning we got up and weren't really sure what our day was going to entail because the itinerary that we got made it seem as if we were going to be at the winery all day tasting and being wild college students from 9:00-4:00! That certainly wasn't the case and I am glad to say that!

We left the hotel after a wonderful breakfast! I had cereal all weekend long for the first time since I have been here! Just simple corn flakes sprinkled with some extra sugar! Oh the things you miss when you can't have them right at your finger tips! I will be happy to have my honey nut cheerios back when I come home! And cold milk! Anyways...enough about my eating!!

We wound our way out of town further into the Toscan country side! Winding up hills, turning down gravel roads and going through tiny little towns until we reached Donatella. It is an amazing estate! We were all eager to get off the bus and go exploring. Some how or another it reminded me of a bunch of children that swarmed the grounds at recess time! Most of the girls took off to the bathrooms, but some of us went exploring! We have better things to do with our time there!

Our tour guide quickly organized us and we were off to start the tour. First seeing the estate and some of the process. The pictures will explain more about it later on! After the tour it was back to the estate for some tasting! This wine is delicious! Along our tour we found out that yes you can stay there and learn to cook! I can smell the fun now! We also learned that it is the only winery of any note in Italy run by a woman. Kind of a different twist on things! The people staying there spoke very highly of Mrs. Donatella saying she was such a good woman!

The wine was very fun to taste and learn a little too! After the tasting we had a noodle making lesson of pincini which is a traditional round long Toscan noodle! This cute little Italian woman helped the chef and she was all smiles the entire time watching us students making the noodles!

We escaped the noodle making for a bit to go take more pictures by the pool but there was a storm creeping in and started to sprinkle! By that time lunch was ready for us! Little did we know we were in for another four course meal with wine to accompany and compliment it this time! Our first course was of meat and cheese with this funny looking pate on a biscuit. Later we found out it was duck liver pate. Apparently a delicasy in Toscana. I will admit I wasn't brave enough to try it because it didn't look very appetizing! It's all in the presentation of things! I am learning that more and more! After this we had our meat pasta that was again delicious! Then they served us literally half a chicken each with potatoes. It was wonderful too! Then we were served our dessert. I forget now what it was called, but again a traditional Toscan dessert made with various friut jams into a torte like pie, covered with powdered sugar! Molto bene!!

Once lunch was over and we were fully stuffed we went to buy some goodies! Olive oil for this chef here! I couldn't resist! By the time we got done with that it was raining and time to head back to the bus for our journey home. I fell asleep pretty quick on the ride back but woke up sweating! Little known fact, Italians apparently don't believe in air conditioning because it was so hot for about the last hour of the bus ride!

When our group got back we realized our luggage was on the other bus which got delayed because they got in some sort of minor accident. The bus turned and didn't see a Vesspa which slammed on its breaks and the rider fell off. Thankfully, everyone was alright it just delayed things a bit. By the time we got back the rain had stopped and it was time for a walk home!

Enjoy the pictures from the weekend! I am off to the Amalfi coast this weekend for some fun in the sun! I can't wait!! We leave tonight at 11:00 p.m. on the bus! It will be a fun trip with the roommates and new friends! It was a good week at school! Went to the Vatican today to get some souvenirs! The little nuns that work in the shop right inside the gates of the basilica were so sweet! Oh how I love seeing them!

Ciao!

On our way up to the winery!

A field of poppies as we went cruising by!

Cooking school!!

The flowers were gorgeous!!

Maura, Lexi, Kate and me!! Apparently I missed the dress memo!!

More flowers!

Grape trees!!

This is where the grapes go at the beginning of the process! Then they are broken down throughout these vats and sent to the distillery to settle and grow as wines!