My friends and I will in Tuscany for a few days while traveling through Italy. One of them wants to "Stomp Grapes a la Lucy & Ethel". Is this something that vinyards allow? Has someone done this before? Also what are the best vinyards/wineries to tour in the Chianti and southern Tuscan region. Thank you for all your help and advise.

Gosh, I've never stomped grapes and know nothing about wineries in Tuscany. I do have a bottle of what was sold to me as "goombah" wine, where the grapes are laid out on a napkin and allowed to ferment in skin, then somehow squeezed. 17% alcohol. It's good stuff. I know where you can pick grapes in October - or olives. Spannochia, which you can find out about at . . . okay I don't have the website at hand. Just type in Spannochia. It's SW of Siena, an organic farm with a villa, fattoria, castello and grapes. Great place where they make their own wine and serve organic food. Lots of accommodation options. Someday, when the gods treat me right, I'll live there. And drink great wine. Have a great trip!

Aireslibre, you made me chuckle! Being from the Lucy and Desi and Ethel and Fred era (and of Italian descent with mother and all grandparents from Italy), I have always wanted to try that myself!

I will look forward to reading replies to your questions. I hope you find a place to do this.

Happy travels!

Dear Aires, I am sorry to disapoint you but stomping grapes by feet probably went out at the same time as the famous I love Lucy show was aired, everyone uses a crushing machine (known as a piedetrice, literally a "foot-machine&quotwhich is not only more effecient but takes out the stems, something you can never do by feet, and even if you use your hands some always remain and they do tend to give the wine a bitter taste ya know. I don't think anywhere in the world they crush by feet, you can get quite small machines for home use, although on our first year in Italy we crushed a batch by foot when the machine broke down in the middle of a crush - quite a memorable occasion. On big fair days like the Sagre in Asti teams of people will be crushing grapes in the old wooden coffin type containers, but that's only for show, who wants to get black feet in this fashion conscious age?

But having said all that, if you still are keen for a giggle, suggest you look for an agriturismo somewhere in the wine country, and ask the owner if you can buy 50 kg or so of grapes and borrow a vasco (big bucket-like container) so you can crush some juice by foot. Maybe they would ferment it for you in a demi-john so you can come back in a year and try your foot concoction. Make sure you wash your feet and have spare batteries for your video!

My Father used to say, when a bit in his cups, "I used to have a job stomping grapes with my feet, but I got fired for sitting down on the job!"

hank you for your responses. What are some of your favorite Tuscan wineries?

great post, what fun to read. I would adore picking olives!! I will be in Florence in October and will look into heading south for this, too cool.

dperry

I wish I liked Olives. I have tried so hard to like them but I cannot stand the taste. Enjoy your trip!!