Un Cult - Sira & Remino

We are spending the weekend in San Gusme ( a small but very elegant, authentic and extraordinarily friendly village) about 15 minutes from Siena in the heart of Chianti Classico Country. In the morning, I was hoping to introduce Chuck to Remo, the charming wine-making and olive-oil producing octogenarian who Lauren and I met in the winter of 1999. He is, according to the people of the region "un libro vitalo" - a living book. And yes we was still hauling his wine in straw baskets, stacking bottles of olive oil and ready to tell us about his life - including pulling out a commendation from the United States for his resistance against the German invasion 1939-45. We calculated that he was about 14 years old when he took it upon himself to protect his village and help his friends and family survive. The town has a gate that the Germans drove a tank through and it stands an a reminder to everyone. We spent at least two hours tasting, "talking" and listening to him tell about history, his premium olive oil and his special wines. Chuck did masterfully and Remo clearly enjoyed a new audience. Chuck was surprised at the effort it took to translate and we returned home for him to take a mental nap while I designed a series of little italian grammar books.

In the afternoon we drove through Chianti Country via Villa a Sesta to Castlo Brolio, fortress and home of the Ricasoli family for nearly a millenium. I'd remembered the tales of the Barone, the castle, countryside, winery and generosity of the people from a Backroads Bicycle tour some 15 years ago. Nothing has changed, except the packaging has gotten more attractive and Grappa is much more popular. Of course, we bought a few bottles. People who comment on our blog may get to share them with us...

We returned to San Gusme for a little snack and now at 8:00 pm Chuck is taking Nap Number 2. This is a breakthrough!!!

If he wakes, we will go to dinner at "Sira and Remino" one of the three delightful restaurants in this little town . It is run by the granchildren of Remo. In order to built their business, they make stickers and posters "Sira and Remino- un Cult" and plastered them throughout Tuscany on buildings, walls and random places. Started a mysterious phenomenon and now their business is thriving - under the watchful eye of their sprightly grandfather, of course...