The Serpentine Road + An Italian Family Reunion

"Rolling hills, charming towns, cypress-lined "serpentine" roads ... this is the Val d'Orcia!

This lush, green part of the world stretches south from Siena to Mount Amiata

and happens to be home to some of the best wines in Italy.

It is, quite simply, the best slice of Tuscany's pie."

Georgette Jupe

Approaching La Foce's Serpentine Road

Heading to the pool
for breakfast!

Mary, Paula and I arose early this morning to another picture-perfect day. (We've heard it rained two solid weeks here before our arrival .... we've been SO fortunate to have had just that one rainy day in Assisi!) We're sharing our Ford Focus this week with Giorgio, Marguerita & Anna and wanted to get in a drive up La Foce's famous "serpentine road" before that group needed the car to head off to Montepulciano for the day.  Up, up, up we drove on the bumpy white road, and then along the top of the ridge  ... and were rewarded with some spectacular views of the valley below.  Mary even spotted the tall, manicured boxwoods of the La Foce Gardens and "our" house, Sassaia, in the far distance. 

Several months ago, when we were planning this trip, my friend Mary McAndrew emailed me that she has a Italian first cousin, Susie, who lives in Urbino, an historic town in the Marche region of Italy, across the Alpennine mountains.  We invited Susie and her son Benji to drive over to Tuscany today and join us for lunch at La Porta in Montecchiello.  Jesus & Gladys drove Paula, Mary and me to the Dopolavoro overlook parking lot where Susie & I were awaiting us!  Her handsome 38 year old son drove us expertly to Montecchielo.  What a great opportunity for Mary to reconnect with these terrific family members.

We all ordered a variety of delicious menu items:  Benji puréed cod (he gave me a bite and it tasted much better than it sounds!), Susie & I the spinach & ricotta ravioli with a marscapone/truffle sauce, Mary and Paula the pici pasta with ragu sauce.  Benji selected a Montepulchiano Vino Nobile which Paula duly added  to her wine journal.

Walk before lunch around the
charming, tiny town of Monticchiello

Daria treated us to her special cherry/cinnamon dessert wine.  When it was time for us to head back to Sassaia, and Susie and Benji to their homes across the mountains, it was pouring down rain and hailing.  Benji did a great job driving safely us back to Dopolavoro.  Paula and I felt so grateful to have had the opportunity to get to know these two lovely Italians and Mary was delighted to have had a reunion with them!

Giorgio, Marguerita and Anna came by Dopolavoro to pick us up on their way home from their day in Montepulciano.  Unfortunately, since there were now SIX of us sharing my rental car, Paula ended up riding in the trunk on our short ride back to Sassaia!  

All eleven Week Two guests made their way to La Foce for our Sunday 6 pm Garden Tour with Sibylla Holtz.  Luckily, the blue, sunny skies had returned and Paula and I couldn't believe how many more flowers were in bloom since last Sunday's Garden Tour!  Roses, peonies, all the flowers were glorious.  The sun was shining brightly and we could easily see Cecil Pincent's "images and shadows" on the manicured hedges in the garden.   At the end of the tour, Sibylla treated us to nibbles and prosecco in the garden - lovely!  (This was my 6th Garden Tour and the first time I received the prosecco!)  We all had fun shopping in the La Foce gift shop after the tour ... I bought the newly released Iris Origo book, "A Chill in the Air," and a cute sun hat for just €12 ... perfect for sightseeing in sunny Florence tomorrow!

When we all got home (Paula in the "trunk" once again!), we enjoyed Happy Hour outside at the green table on Sassaia's lawn which was quite delightful ... until the lawn sprinklers came on full force and chased us all inside to the Summer Living Room!

Early to bed ... big day tomorrow when I will have the immense pleasure of introducing Paula & Mary to Bella Firenze!