San Gimignano, wine travel in Tuscany: part 2

It is hard to visit the Tuscan area of Italy and not stop to visit walled cities. The walled city San Gimignano was considered the Manhattan of the Middle Ages. Tall towers towered over the city and could be seen from the surrounding countryside miles away. Now, only a handful of towers remain however tourists still walk these ancient streets in droves. Wine is never far away and wine travelers will want to visit this centuries old town.

The city is walled and visitors have to park in one of the lots outside the city. The main entrance to the city is heavily lined with people entering and exiting. Amble through the streets. If you are in the shopping mood, you can spend hours if not days shopping. There are many restaurants to choose from as well as bakeries and perhaps the best gelato in Italy. The entire city is walkable so one can explore for quite a time.

The main streets are covered with people. However when you break away and travel the side streets you get an idea of the charm the city offers. Find a spot on high ground and you can see views of the countryside. Many of the views will be of rolling hills covered with vineyards and olive trees. It is on one of these excursions that you can discover one of the smallest wine museums in the world.

The Museo del Vino Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a wine museum devoted to the grape Vernaccia that grows in the San Gimignano region. Several small rooms help visitors learn about the history of this grape and its production methods. An attached enoteca offers wine tasting of Vernaccia from local producers.
When traveling through Italy, spend a day in a walled city. Sample the local wines and discover the charm the town offers.

Read more about the Museo del Vino Vernaccia di San Gimignano on the Wine Trail Traveler site.