My Trip To Franciacorta

Well like I told you yesterday I'm back. I had a hard time but found someone to take me to Franciacorta. It is a bunch of little cities and they are not all connected by train. The vineyards are no where near the train stations. He picked me up outside my room and delievered me to the same spot. I know they say the trains are easy but wow this was heaven. When we got there the large vineyards were closed for holiday. I was getting sad, I had put alot of time into this trip, and things just seem to be going wrong. My driver was great he got on the phone and worked. I ended up in the SOLIVE vineyard. They gave me a private tour. This first picture is what I saw when I first walked into the production area. They collect types of tiny antique transportation. My driver spoke English so he translated. I was happy because I understood alot of what she said. Her accent was more like at school. He told them I was a cooking student and was doing a stage at Gambero. They had heard of my restaurant and school and treated me very special.
This was a table set up for my private tasting. I wish I could convey the stature of the whole place but it is impossible. In pictures it just shows a room. I got to taste the Rose and Satin Sparkling wines and she told me I would have the brut at lunch. I did not know they were feeding me. My favorite was the Satin, It was like magic in my mouth.
This is another car and the vats for storing the sparkling wine before it is bottled.
She drove us down to their farm area and this country style building. They grow everything they serve, from the cows to the vegetables. It is organic and safe. There idea of organic is a bit different from ours. They don't just say all natural because some natural things are not good. They have very strict rules. She sat me down and food and my brut franciacorta showed. This is a grape and balsamic risotto. It was very different but in a very good way. She explained they came up with it because they had plenty of grapes. The cheese was a very strong cheese but I never could understand what kind. The sweet and the sharp taste with the balsamic went together so well. Next they brought me polenta with lots of pepper, potatoes, and slices of steak with olives and grapes in a brown sauce. This was tasty but the risotto was the best. The brut was good but the satin was the winner. I was to full for dessert and was ready to buy some wine. When I went to pay the girl said 15 in Italian and I thought I misunderstood. So to be safe I took out a 50 and she handed me change. I could not believe it 15 euros for my tasting and my great meal. I brought wine to give as gifts when I go back to take my test. I leave here for school in 5 days. I was so content I almost slept the way back to Calvisano. This was a very very very good day.
Yvonne