Montecarlo Wine Festival

September brings a softer light even though the days are still hot, that intense heat has gone and all eyes are turned toward the vines to choose the moment for the Vendemmia or wine harvest. The Tuscan hills abound at this time of year with feste celebrating their wine.
Montecarlo is no exception; this hilltop medieval town (not the quartier in the Principality of Monaco os loved by  Ferrari owners) perches on the top of a hill between Lucca and Pescia near Le Mura Villa Tuscany, has a month long festival to celebrate this elixir of Life.

The wine around Lucca may not have the long history of their Chianti neighbours but their reputation is growing year by year with vineyards winning international awards for their wines. Some produce organic wine and there is a choice of red, white and bubbles, which is rare for this area. The prosecco type wine is dry and sophisticated, it has even been awarded a prize in France. It is produced by  Buonamico, one of my favourite vineyards. I also love their reds and white wine.  I see  Buonamico has been noticed by celebrity Michelin starred Chef Gordon Ramsey, who has found a pearl of a white wine to serve at his Mayfair "Maze" restaurant in  London:  The  Montecarlo doc from the Buonamico estate.  It seems this foodie Celeb, famous for his bad temper on Masterchef has found our little paradise and enjoyed the fruits of our hills.

Montecarlo makes a stunning setting and the long trestle tables with their benches give  a wonderful view of the twinkling distant lights of Montecatini Alto and the full moon  to create the perfect setting to celebrate this year's grape and to sip one's chosen wine and enjoy a plate of crostini and my absolute favourite pasta fritta (I can never work out how fried dough can taste so good).  You can, of course,  also a enjoy a full meal, including the famous Tortelli Lucchesi.

However, don't sit down and relax before taking a stroll around. This little town has everything: a castle, the sweetest bijou theatre and views to take your breath away plus lots more ,but that is for another post!

The wine festival is every year from the end of August to the middle of September. Look at the website for the comune di Montecarlo for details.
http://www.comune.montecarlo.lu.it/home.html