Dario Castagno was born in the Wimbledon district of London in 1967 and moved to Italy in 1977 when his parents decided to return to their homeland, purchasing a house secluded in the Chianti hills of Tuscany close to Siena. Dario was very much attracted by this environment that had inspired so many of its native artists and geniuses. At the age of 15, Dario dropped out of school and found employment at a winery. Several years later, he was the first to offer private off-the-beaten-path tours through the Chianti region. His memoirs of this experience, Too Much Tuscan Sun - The Confessions of a Chianti Tour Guide, were translated into several languages and chosen as a 2005 New York Times notable book. A sequel, called A Day in Tuscany - More Confessions of a Chianti Tour Guide, was followed by a third volume called Too Much Tuscan Wine. His fourth book and first novel, An Osteria in Chianti, was published in 2010; Seven Seasons in Siena will appear in March 2011. Protagonist of the movie My Chianti - A Day in the Life of a Tuscan Author, Dario is a proud member of the Noble Bruco Contrada in Siena and lives an isolated existence in the small village of Vagliagli.
Here are two wonderful ways to meet the NY Times best-selling Tuscan author and enjoy a full immersion into the lifestyle and traditions of Tuscany's Chianti region:
THE WONDERS OF CHIANTI WITH LUNCH AT DIEVOLE
Meet a professional guide member of Dario's team at 9 am at any hotel in Siena or Florence, or any private villa in the Florentine Chianti. Transfer by private air-conditioned mini-van to the Chianti, where you will explore the paved and unpaved roads in order to experience a little of everything this area has to offer. At 11 am, Dario Castagno will greet you at Dievole Winery and accompany you on a personalized tour of the estate. Along the way he will entertain you with local history, anecdotes, legends and lore. You will enjoy a tasting in the cellars, followed by lunch with the world-acclaimed author of six books, all based in Tuscany, Chianti and Siena. The tour continues after lunch for a full immersion in the Chianti, with stops in medieval hamlets and castles, villages and villas.
Return to your hotel by 6 pm. The prices below include transportation and guide. The Dievole tour and lunch including wine cost 60 Euro/person paid in Italy.
2012 Prices 1-4 people 517.00 Euro/group 5-6 people 575.00 Euro/group 7-8 people 632.00 Euro/group
THE WONDERS OF CHIANTI WITH LUNCH AT BORGO SCOPETO
If you prefer, you may meet Dario at Dievole and enjoy the tour of the winery, then continue on for lunch at Borgo Scopeto, the gorgeous 1000-year-old hamlet where scenes in the movie Letters to Juliet were filmed. Prices below include transportation and guide. The Dievole tour including wine tasting costs 25 Euro/person paid in Italy; lunch at Borgo Scopeto costs extra a la carte.
2012 Prices 1-4 people 632.00 Euro/group 5-6 people 690.00 Euro/group 7-8 people 747.00 Euro/group
Siena province is large enough to have two totally distinct regions, the Chianti and Crete. You can visit the latter with a member of Dario's team.
CRETE: THE SOUTHERN PART OF SIENA PROVINCE
Depart at 9 am from any hotel in Siena.
With your guide, you will travel by air-conditioned mini-van to southern Tuscany. The spectacular panoramic roads make it possible to marvel at the amazing landscape, which could not be more different than the landscape in Chianti. Your day starts with a visit to one of Italy's jewels, the Monte Oliveto Maggiore monastery, where your guide will explain each of the 21 sixteenth-century frescoes painted around the cloister by Luca Signorelli and Sodoma.
Your next stop is delightful Montalcino. After exploring the town, there is a pause for lunch at a winery where they produce the world-famed Brunello wine. This is one of the best restaurants in town, and the menu is a la carte. Your guide is driving, so enjoy all the wine you want! As an alternative you can choose a more simple lunch based on local cold cuts and cheese in a typical local enoteca.
After lunch you will travel even farther back, all the way to the 8th century. Your destination is a haunting countryside abbey, allegedly built by Charlemagne. The atmosphere is straight out of Name of the Rose, and if you're lucky you'll hear the monks singing Gregorian chants as they have done for hundreds of years. Your last stop is to visit one of the most prestigious producers of Brunello wine. Return to your hotel in the evening. The prices below include transportation and guide. Lunch is not included.
2012 Prices 2 people 491.00 Euro/group 3 people 514.00 Euro/group 4 people 514.00 Euro/group 5 people 536.00 Euro/group 6 people 536.00 Euro/group
