Our First Day Before Milan

This is what we like to call it as there is no need to call it what it really is.

We started the day by visiting the Banfi winery.  Banfi is one of the largest producers in Italy, so quite the switch from the one man shows we visited with Silvio.  There is certainly a charm that goes with visiting the small guy, and having them come in off the tractor to have a glass of wine with you, but the big beautiful estates definitely have their place as well.  Banfi is not exception, and their wines are really good as well.  They house the largest glass collection in a museum right on the property.  After a tasting, we stayed there for lunch as well.

After Banfi we headed to the monastery.  It was kinda weird.  They have speakers set up so you can hear the monks chants.  The church is beautiful.  There was a lot of people set up on the front "lawn" with blankets - napping?  That was strange as well.  Maybe you can hear the chants there as well?

We had grand plans to do a bunch of other things, but instead we returned to Montalcino, and I believe now we can say we have stopped at every bar, enoteca, caffe and wine shop that serves wine in Montalcino.  Sorry Baffas - I know you asked us to save you some wine.  Our plan originally was only to drink all the wine in the North, and that would leave you some.  I think now you should just really hope they make more in the next 2 months!