Thursday night, 26^th September, 2013

The small renovated Church at Tenuta di Colle Massari

We can all join in the early morning dancing exercises!

Specially after dinner at their farm restaurant the night before!

Friday 27^th September, 2013

Not too far to visit this gorgeous Castello di Colle Massari in Poggi del Sasso.  The family who own this estate produced their first vintage in 2000.  But the family who restored the castle are the same Allinghi family who competed in the 2003 America’s Cup in New Zealand and won it!   I remember reading about the fact that they owned a castle in Chianti and thinking – Oh that’s nice – it would be nice to visit that some day – and here we are!

Bushes of lavender line the steps up to the castello

The castle was immaculately well rebuilt from a ruin over a period of 5 years, it opened in 2008, but is mainly used as a home by the family and for celebratory dinners for their customers.

A lovely lunch at their ultra modern winery and lunch at their Enoteca “La Mangitola” – with an excellent menu of dishes to choose from a buffet to go along with their Montecucco Rigoletto and Riserva

We walk back from lunch and take a quiet afternoon around the pool of our lodgings on top of the hill at the Tenuta.

Me with Sue Lancaster, my new walking companion! I might add that David raced on ahead – but got picked up by the mini bus which had to do several runs to pick up those who did not want to walk back!

Time for a swim in the pool or a painting from the grounds

View from our bedroom window