Trip to Greve in Chianti: a tuscan trip to the Chianti wine country
Greve in Chianti is located in Tuscany, between Florence and Siena, on the via Chiantigiana because it crosses the territory of Chianti from which it also draws its nomenclature. The city lies, precisely, between the Chianti and the Fiorentine Mountains, therefore it has a much cooler climate than the latter, extending its territory from hill to mountain to the southernmost area. The height, therefore, varies considerably from 130 meters s.l.m. of the Ferrone area up to almost 900 meters s.l.m. of Monte San Michele, with the differences that result from the morphology.
In winter, in many areas belonging to Greve in Chianti, snow is frequent. The territory is divided into 14 fractions, namely the following: Chiocchio, Cintoia Bassa, Dudda, Ferrone, Greti, Montefioralle, Lamole, Lucolena in Chianti, Pancake, Panzano in Chianti, Pecorai Pass, Poggio alla Croce, San Polo in Chianti , Strada in Chianti. Among them, it deserves a mention other than that of Montefioralle, located on the hill overlooking the city of Chieve and historically used for fortification functions where, among other things, the explorer Amerigo Vespucci was born. The city, just Greve until 1977, is currently in Greve in Chianti following the annexation of its territory to the so called Classico del Chianti or the production area of Chianti Classico wine.
I raccomanded this place for wine tasting and nice lunch: https://www.altieroinchianti.it/
From the historical point of view it should be noted that Greve in Chianti owes its “fortune” mainly to the geographical position at the point where the road connections between the Valdarno, the Greve valley and the road from Florence to the area of Siena, crossing the Chianti hills. It easily deduces its great commercial function.
Before joining the Florentine province, Greve was annexed to the vicarage of San Giovanni Valdarno at the border with the Viceroy of Certaldo. The city of Greve depended, from a commercial point of view, on Montefioralle, which is currently a part of it, because there was the castle there. Afterwards, its position permitted it to be magnified by the mark. Other areas fortification purposes were Uzzano, Canonica, Mugnana, Verrazzano and S. Lucia in Barbiano. From the economic point of view, it was the strategic location of Greve in Chianti, at the crossroads of three important pilgrimage roads, which decreed the development of the territory.
The Via Chiantigiana, the road to the Valdarno and the valley of Val Pesa, constituted an important network for trade. At present, the area is mainly based on tourism, especially the food and wine industry, mostly linked to Chianti wine, although there are still widespread craftsmanships that took place in ancient times such as wicker and lining impregnated with marsh grasses in order to construct characteristic glass objects. As far as events are concerned, the most important are those related to the products of the area and those inherent in the medieval tradition of the area. First of all we must mention the event that takes place each year in September, when the Chianti Classico Wine Festival is realized with the possibility of tasting the wines by purchasing the glass just entered the Festival. Obviously musical performances and not accompanying the festival that is famous throughout Italy.
Along with the gastronomic profile, there are many events that are organized, mostly in the summer and in the early part of autumn, with the possibility of sampling local dishes and drinks, which are accompanied by local craft shops. Another holiday related to the typical products is the feast of the bona season, held in the spring, precisely on 25 April, in the hamlet of Panzano, celebrating, precisely, the good season, both in terms of climate and production than under the historical one. In fact, during the demonstration, a popular movement that occurred in the sixteenth century with an assassination of a duke and the consequent capture of the alleged murderer in which a sort of public process takes place is recalled. Everything is staged through a parade of characters in medieval costumes that travel through the streets of the country. Here, too, to make it a master, is Chianti wine.
The cuisine of Greve in Chianti is typical of the area of the Chianti Classico that dominates on the table of locals, restaurateurs and tourists. The flavors of the earth are at the heart of everything, so let’s talk about simple and genuine ingredients, a poor kitchen that reflects the economy of a time. To mention, for example, the so-called “Panzanella“, clearly designed to feed with the few possibilities available but reflecting the flavors of a cuisine, the Tuscan, which has made and is still around the world. The “Panzanella”, in fact, is nothing more than roasted bread with onion, tomato, basil and cucumber. Other simple achievements are the so-called “Fettunta”, also made of bread, at the base of Tuscan cuisine, with olive oil, garlic, pepper and buttered croutons, beech and black cabbage. In addition, we find ourselves in the Greve soup kitchen for the purpose of serving unique dishes made with vegetables, vegetables, pork, strictly seasoned with olive oil, produce from the hills of the site, which since 2000 has acquired the Denomination of Protected Origin . Another typical flavor is the game of game with roasts to cook on the grasshopper. Greve in Chianti is immediately associated with the world-famous wine produced in this area whose symbol is the black cock representing the Consortium of Chianti Classico wine producers, a territory that includes the following areas: Castellina in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, Greve in Chianti, Radda in Chianti and partly in Barberino Val d’Elsa, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Poggibonsi, San Casciano in Val di Pesa and Tavarnelle Val di Pesa. The choice of the rooster as a symbol of Greve in Chianti is not a random one, but comes from a legend about the famous struggle between Senesi and Fiorentini. To establish the boundaries of their respective areas, it was decided that two riders would challenge themselves. The point at which the latter would be challenged would mark the border between the Florentine and Siena. The meeting point between the two would be derived from the singing of the respective cocks of the two zones. The Sienese citizens chose a white rooster that ate a great deal of greeting, while the Florentines had a black rooster fasting. As a consequence, the hungry black cock, hungry, woke up long before dawn, making himself heard, while the white man slept with his full belly. The Knight of Siena therefore departed much after the Florentine knight, so the two met at 12 km from the walls of Siena and, therefore, the Fiorentina won almost all the territory of Chianti. The town of Greve in Chianti is located about 30 km from Florence and about 40 km from Siena, so it can be entered into a tour that includes visits to the major sites in the area. Tourism has mainly food and wine vocation, especially linked to the production of Chianti Classico wine, but also to the characteristic medieval hamlets