06/12/2026
Day 8 of Wine Maniacs on the Run: Italy Edition 🇮🇹🍷
Miraculously, we have not been arrested yet.
The Wine Maniacs continue their trek across Italy, fueled primarily by wine, cured meats, pasta, and reckless optimism.
The tasting trail has been stacked. We started at La Quercia, where Montepulciano reminded us that bold, rustic, and delicious is a combination we'll never get tired of. Then on to La Marchetti, where every glass seemed to tell a different story about the region and its traditions.
Next up was Cantina Vignaioli del Morellino di Scansano, a cooperative proving that when talented growers work together, beautiful things happen. Morellino represents over 165 growers that come together to make only the good stuff. This operation was crazy as they had a whole robotic system to bottle, label and box the wines, start to finish. It was a little bit like W***y Wonka and the Chocolate Factory without the Oompa Loompas.
Then came Castellare, where world-class Chianti Classico met jaw-dropping Tuscan views.
Packed up yesterday to our final destination and accidentally got into the wrong car.
Not just opened the door. Not just sat down.
We fully loaded our luggage into it.
Then we unpacked everything after realizing our mistake while the actual owners watched out the window laughing hysterically as they witnessed the entire operation unfold. A true Wine Maniacs masterclass in situational awareness...
Our final destination for the next 4 nights is a villa deep in the countryside of Gaiole in Chianti. No cell service. No distractions. Rolling vineyards in every direction. Turns out being disconnected is actually pretty awesome.
Today's agenda is somehow even better.
First stop: Vallepicciola for another tasting because apparently our livers have accepted this challenge.
Then it's back to the villa for a private cooking class where we'll learn to make fresh pasta from scratch with our chef. If all goes according to plan, we'll be drinking Chianti, making pasta, and arguing about whose dough is the most authentic by sunset.
Eight days in.
Hundreds of miles traveled.
More wineries than we can count.
One stolen car attempt.
Zero arrests.
The Wine Maniacs ride on. 🍷🚐🇮🇹
