Another great festival to celebrate summer awaits guests in Tuscany, and this time with stargazing and wine-tasting. Organized by the Movimento Turismo del Vino (MTV) and the National Association of Wine Cities, Calci di Stelle or ‘Goblets of Stars’ will be an opportunity for enthusiasts to stroll among rows of vines in the moonlight and to experience estates under the backdrop of the starry sky, always accompanied by a good glass of wine.
The seasonal event offers a wide range of events in various wineries throughout the Tuscany region until the middle of August. Events comprise dinners, art, walks, concerts, guided wine tastings, and stargazing led by experts of an amateur astronomer’s association.
The theme for this year’s edition is “Eno-Astronomy” and the celestial bodies will dictate the rich calendar of events. On August 10, “Night of San Lorenzo” will illuminate the landscape with a shower of meteors that every year makes the tastings of ‘Calici di Stelle’ even more magical. The moon will then become “super” (closer to the Earth, it appears larger) on the night of August 12; the phenomenon in known in Italian as the “Superluna dello Sturgeon,” this will be the final occasion of the year to admire this extraordinary spectacle. On the nights of August 14 and 15, the moon will align respectively with Saturn and then Jupiter, offering a real “stellar” experience to guests.
The Tuscan Wine Tourism Movement Association is a non-profit organization that gathers over a hundred members from the most prestigious estates in the area, selected according to specific prerequisites. The association’s goal is to promote wine culture through visits to the local cantine.
The following estates in the province of Florence will host events till the middle of August. For the complete program in Tuscany, visit the Movimento Turismo del Vino website.
Poggiopiano Farm, Fiesole
Wednesday, August 10
A seafood dinner will be deliciously paired with wines. Reservation is required, with a fee of €55.
For more info, mail info@poggiopiano.it, call 3384342483, or visit www.poggiopiano.it.
Lamole di Lamole, Greve in Chianti
August 10 – 15 at 7:30 pm.
The event starts with a brief introduction to the history of Lamole and then moves to the vineyards, where sustainable and organic practices will be explained. Then, the tour will continue in the wine cellars and after a short walk at sunset, a visit to the historical cellar from the 1300s will be made.
Following this, there will be a guided tasting of four Chianti Classico wines served with platter of local cold cuts and cheeses, bruschetta, Panzanella, paired with wine, followed by cantuccini almond biscotti, and Vinsanto. After the tasting, stargazing will take place in a specially equipped area. Reservations are required, with an entrance fee of €50. For more info, mail visit@lamole.com
Podere dell’Uliveto, San Casciano Val di Pesa
Until August 15 (7 – 11 pm)
Guided wine tasting.
For more info, call 3483313084, mail filippodeclaricini@gmail.com or visit
www.poderedelluliveto.com. Reservations required. Tasting costs €7 per person.
Tenuta di Castelfalfi, Montaione
August 8 and 9
Two evenings are planned with the activity of painting wine on canvas, created under the clear starry sky of Castelfalfi. The event is accompanied by a wine tasting session and jazz music. Guests will get to know the estate’s products, discover the curious art of painting with wine and take their creations home. For more info, call +39 3667568680, mail: winery@castelfalfi.com, or visit www.castelfalfi.com. Reservations required.
Tenuta di Sticciano, Certaldo
Wednesday, August 10 at 7:30 pm
A dinner, pairing organic wines and a selection of cheeses made under the guidance of special guest Andrea Magi, who will present eight kinds of aged cheese paired with four wines from Tenuta di Sticciano. For more info, call 0571-669032, mail reception@tenutadisticciano.it , or visit www.tenutadisticciano.com/it/. Entrance fee is €60
Torraccia di Presura, Greve in Chianti
August 8,10,11,12 (5 – 11 pm)
Guided tasting of five wines at €10. For more info, call 388-4630045 055-858571, mail info@ulivello.it or visit www.torracciadipresura.com/it/
Until August 14 (except Tuesdays)
Dinner with typical Tuscan dishes accompanied by wine. Prices vary and reservations are required. For more info, call 388-4630045/055-858571 or mail info@ulivello.it
Wednesday, August 10 (San Lorenzo) and Friday, August 12 (during the supermoon, 8 – 11 pm)
The session comprises a tasting of wines, accompanied by a platter of cold cuts, cheeses, and bread, and ending with Vin Santo with cantucci almond biscotti. The grand final is a hike under the stars with a visit to the cellar at night. Comfortable shoes are recommended. The entrance fee is €45. Reservations are required. For more info call 388-4630045/055-858571 or mail info@ulivello.it. (elif aytemiz)
