Discovering the heart of Chianti with Outdoor Recreation

TUSCANY, Italy - One of the most renowned Italian areas for wine and landscape was a recent destination of U.S. Army Garrison Italy Family and MWR Outdoor Recreation. The trip explores the hilly territory of Chianti, an area in the center of Tuscany between Florence and Siena.

"This is the season of the fruit and grape harvest, so we thought of coming to Tuscany, in this beautiful region," said Lisa Xodo, trip leader. "And we visited a very specific winery that we knew."

After traveling by bus from Vicenza and reaching a wine cellar of the area, approximately 20 participants started discovering the history of how the Chianti classic is produced from a very specific blend of grapes, which is mainly the Sangiovese variety. The vineyard owner gave a tour through the cellar rooms while explaining the production of the wine and how it is aged in different types of barrels. The visit was followed by sampling the local red wines paired with bruschetta, local cold cuts and a gourmet risotto cooked with the renowned red wine.

"They served us something to eat with wines that could accompany the food in a congenial way," explained Xodo, who added that, while sharing this experience, there was also a "mingling" between people taking part in this trip.

"They chatted among themselves; they expanded their friendships. It seems to me that the participants are satisfied with this way of associating, of discovering other things," she said.

For the second time in a few months Victoria Bitar, who works at the Army Health Center Vicenza, joined this trip.

"I came back again, because this is a different season," she said.

Previously, she came in May, but she wanted to see how the area looked in the fall. For Bitar, visiting Tuscany gives an opportunity to know a different aspect in Italy, including the history, the culture and the climate.

"Plus, the way that the vineyard owner presented the grapes and the wines was such a wonderful way that you can really appreciate the history behind it, as well as the winemaking," she said.

Along with the other members of the tour, Bitar appreciated the degustation.

"The food was totally amazing; it was more than a snack, it was actually a whole lunch," she said, while highlighting that it was also very typical of the area and went perfectly with the winetasting.

"I would recommend this trip absolutely. It has been the best trip I have been on with Outdoor Recreation; this is by far my favorite. And, if it comes up again, I am going to do it again," said Bitar.

To conclude the journey, a short-distance excursion from the winery brought the group to visit Monteriggioni, a town founded at the beginning of the 13th century by the Republic of Siena with a defense system consisting of 500-meter-long circular walls, 14 square-based towers and two main gates.

Other upcoming Outdoor Recreation trips will include the visit of historic cities in Tuscany and other regions, such as Volterra and San Gimignano on Nov. 16; Lucca and Pisa on Nov. 23; Innsbruck, Austria and its Christmas Market on Nov. 30, and other Christmas Markets in Dobbiaco and Trento on Dec. 7.

"We're living in a prime location; mountains are nearby, cities and cultural destinations are just a blink away, and the beaches are only a few hours away," said Gordon Scott, Outdoor Rec Program manager.

"Thanks to our wonderful team and trip leaders - like Lisa Xodo, who always goes the extra mile with a smile - we ensure that everyone has a great time. For us, the most important thing is for individuals to have fun and relax. We look forward to seeing folks on the next upcoming adventures with ODR."

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