Ancient Village, Modern Flavors: Radda-In-Chianti

We woke up on a bright blue September day in a centuries-old villa perched on one of the green undulating hills of the Chianti region of Italy, the twisting, winding roads the only indication of the 21st century.

Jane, my sister-in-law, had arranged a winery tour to the Vignavecchia winery, located just outside Radda-in-Chianti. At 10am we arrived, greeted by our enthusiastic hosts, Jessica and Valentina. Jessica and Valentina gave us Indicazione Geografica Tipica (typical Tuscan wine), and Chianti Classico wine, explaining, in limited but clear English, their local merits and exact production requirement.

Our morning introduction to these uniquely Tuscan wines was a flavorful start to our vacation. Food and drink, it seems, is an integral part of Tuscan life.

That evening, we tried something new to us, local to the region: Wild Boar. Our meal, a Tuscan tradition, was definitely sourced locally. Some ingredients of our side dishes, such as figs, basil and oregano, were even handpicked in our own backyard.

Our villa, surrounded by vineyards, was ten minutes from Radda. The village marketplace supplied only locally grown produce. In fact, the owners couldn’t imagine any other way. When we asked for red peppers (my children’s favorite) they shook their heads. “Not here,” they said with equal hand movements to augment their small English vocabulary. “Too far,” as in, they are grown too far to bring it all the way to their market.

A Sensual Delight: Smells and Tastes of Chianti

One afternoon we left our children with their aunt and uncle, and drove into the Radda town center, where Bar Enoteca Dante Alighieri serves local fresh-made food. Our waiter translated a few ingredients into English, and helped us to pronounce our menu choices. My mouth still waters at the memory of Tuscany’s fresh olive oil and basil. For this meal, she suggested a fragrant plate of “tagliatelli e pesto.” Simple, but nothing quite like it back home.

Fifteen minutes away is Volpaia, a sleepy town that hosts a great restaurant with a view on the edge of the hill, olive oil tasting across the small piazza and a small active winery at the back of the town. The whole village is only a few blocks long, covered in centuries old cobblestone walks and heavy stone buildings.

Back at our villa, our children enjoyed the daily fresh-baked breads and homemade pastas. They even made fettucine one day.

Where is Radda?

Radda-in-Chianti, occupied since 11 century BC, is approximately 30 km (20 mi) North of Siena and 50 km (30 mi) South of Florence through windy roads. The faster, straighter autostrads border either side of the region, and only add 15 minutes to travel time.

Uncomplicated Living

The Chianti region maintains uncomplicated living, quiet villages, and long history brought into present day. Moments with the small town shopkeeper, the gracious restaurant owner and the proud butcher give us an experience we yearn to repeat.
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