If you’ve ever read the book Under the Tuscan Sun or seen the movie, then you’ve probably dreamt of one day spending some quality time in Tuscany. It is one of my favorite spots on planet Earth!
We’ve been there a number of times—in the early spring as the grape vines are just waking up, in the heat of summer when the 5 foot tall majestic sunflowers blanket the hills for as far as you can see. And, we’ve been spectators at the centuries old Palio in the Siena piazza—all fabulous experiences and every single one of them worthy of repeating.
Our most recent visit took us to a part of Tuscany we had never been to – Bolgheri. It’s a relatively new wine appellation that is already producing some of the world’s most highly respected wines like Ornellaia and Sassicaia. I’ll talk more about the wines in an upcoming post—they deserve to be in the spotlight!
Bolgheri is a small region situated on the western Tuscany coast just south of Livorno. We stayed at the most delightful bed and breakfast—Tenuta Gardini Relais Saint Elena. This charming spot is nestled into the rolling Tuscan hills.
So picturesque, staying at Tenuta Gardini is like living in someone’s oil painting. The rooms were wonderful…updated with modern Tuscan décor, and the fresh air was invigorating. We slept with our windows open each night. Below is one of the beautiful living areas near the breakfast room.
Breakfasts at Tenuta Gardini are not to be missed. The cheerful, sunlit dining room is a welcoming spot. The choices for breakfast are wonderful from the traditional eggs and savory bacon to homemade pastries and fresh fruit. And, of course, espresso and cappuccino made to order.
One of the beautiful breakfast choices was a lemon torta, a sweet cake with the zest of Tuscan lemons. Keep in mind, lemons in Tuscany are literally the size of our cantaloupes—they are phenomenal, tart, full of flavor yet not bitter. I’ve got the recipe for that pretty pastry right here.
A word of advice when finding your way to Tenuta Gardini or anywhere in Italy for that matter, have some sort of GPS device. My iPhone saved us many, many times! Thank you AT&T…I could always find service.
More on the fabulous wines soon!
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