Mapping MONTALCINO

Graham Chidgey has been a leading wine importer of French and Italian wines to the UK for more than 35 years. He lives in Ancaiano near Siena, together with his wife, painter Angela Chidgey. I've met Graham and Angela in the late 90s when working for various wineries in Montalcino and always enjoyed Graham's no nonsense approach to one of the world's most famous wines.  You have lived in Tuscany for nearly 20 years. What brought you here? Originally we bought a casa colonica (a Tuscan farmhouse) in Radicondoli for family holidays. Angela specially wanted to paint in Italy and I visited France nearly every month so I felt also Italy would suit us better. You started out as an importer of French wines. When did you first taste or drink a Brunello di Montalcino? 1981 Did you take to it right away?  Not specially as Brunello was then still being made mostly by Montalcino's contadini  with many winemaking faults because of the farmers' lack of experience. Many quali...

It isn't Arezzo, but Buonconvenot's yearly antiques fair called 'Cose del Passato' (things of the past) is the perfect event for an Easter stroll. You may not have space in your luggage to invest in century old Tuscan furniture... but you'll definitely enjoy seeing the interiors of many of Buonconvento's historic buildings, which are opened up on the occasion to serve as market stalls. BUONCONVENTO ANTIQUES FAIR 29th of March to 1st of April 2013, from 10 am to 8 pm in the historic town center.  Hungry? Check out my restaurant (and museum) advice for Buonconvento .  What after? You may still be in time to join one of Tuscany's many Easter processions . 

Buonconvento: benches waiting for the idle visitor.  I've written about my passion for Buonconvento before. The Southern Tuscan town sports  great museums and ice-cream and a beautiful town center with impressive town walls. Plus, the town is often overlooked by tourists heading towards Montalcino and the Val d'Orcia. Buonconvento is not entirely off-the-beaten track, but definitely refreshing after an afternoon spent jammin' it in Siena or Pienza.  This said, during a few days of the year you'll be surprised by running into quite the crowd in Buonconvento. Luckily it will be made up by mainly locals, not tourists.