February 16, 2016, The "Black Rooster" labels in a unique collection The preview tasting of the 2015, 2014 vintages and the 2013 Riserva and Gran Selezione in the presence of more than 150 producers.

Tasting of the 2015 Chianti Classico DOP Olive Oil.

The event is reserved exclusively for trade professionals.

FIRENZE, STAZIONE LEOPOLDA - v.le Fratelli Rosselli, 5 (Porta al Prato)

Maybe the best of all the fall tastings/wine festivals in Tuscany is Panzano's Vino al Vino. Is it the town, the people, the soil, the sun, the grapes? Some of all of that for sure - but it is really about the wine. And the 20 producers that participate in this event are arguably some of the finest wine makers in the world.

Renzo Marinai below - he told me once he plays classical music in his cellars because it is good for the wine!

Vino al Vino, Panzano in Chianti at Piazza Bucciarelli
Thursday, September 12th 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Friday, September 13th 12:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Saturday, September 14th 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sunday, September 15th 11:00 am – 7:30 pm

This year's music schedule:

Don't forget Florence Wine Town this Friday & Saturday: http://www.florencewinemerchants.com/

More info here: http://www.winetown.it

Okay I am still lobbing soft balls up here - just been too busy (and too lazy) to get to the meaty favorites (church, museum, piazza, etc.) things. Today I am sticking with wine. I already mentioned Le volpi e l'uva as my favorite wine bar, and while they are also an enoteca, and their wines are usually both very good and great values, the overall selection is a little limited.

For favorite enoteca overall I am going to go with Enoteca Bonatti, a family run shop just outside the center past Piazza Beccaria. They have a great selection in a broad price range, imported wines, Champagne, and offer free tastings in the warmer months, and home delivery. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable and there are hundreds of wines to choose from.

A close runner up is Enoteca Millesimi - I would go there more often but the majority of wines there are a bit out of my budget. Millesimi also has a superb selection of French wine and Champagnes, probably the best in Florence if not all of Tuscany. In either case you can't go wrong though if you are looking for great wine.

I went to a wine tasting yesterday and wrote up some thoughts here.

Wine Town Firenze this weekend!

It is a good event - and not expensive, with tons of free music, etc.

I was just about to head out to the last day of the Florence Wine Event, for some more tasting and to buy a few bottles, when a real deluge started. And then it turned into a giant hail storm, the street flooded, and the rain never stopped. So unfortunately I did not get back there. I did spend some time tasting a few wines and seeing some friends on Friday - I will try to write more about that on Florence Wine Merchants this week.

The Florence Wine Event is coming up next weekend - last year it was pushed back to November, this year they moved it up (it was usually early September but Florence Wine Town seems to have taken over that time slot), and it is only at the Palazzo Pitti (I think) so it has also been scaled back. In any case, it is usually a great tasting event with lots of good producers - I will post more soon on Florence Wine Merchants about this.

Alessi has started their series of wine tastings up again - every Thursday at 5PM: