Charming dinner in a vineyard

Imagine yourself driving in the Tuscany countryside. You can feel the Italian wind caressing your hair as the windows are rolled down. The sun is gold-streaked and disappears behind rolling Tuscan hills. You are on your way to a winery dinner, where you will spend the evening enjoying delicious food and listening to live music. The sounds of laughter, chirping crickets, and the tinkling glasses surround you. The sound of the conversation is echoing out into the valley below. You walk up the fragrant path lined with lavender to a group of glamorous guests. A long table is decorated with flowers and a beautiful display of pici, freshly made.

This is a dream that we all can get behind. This is a scene from La Dolce Vita. The food will make you write poetry, and the wine will dance on your tongue. You’ll never forget a moment when you felt that every detail was taken into consideration to create an extravagant party.

A Family Affair

Querceto di Castellina makes this dream a reality. This family-owned-and-operated winery is located in the heart of the Chianti region in Tuscany. Since 1945, when Florentine-born Guido Masini acquired the historic estate and the surrounding land, the property has belonged to the Di Battista Family. The evolution of the winery in Italy has been slow and careful, as with many other businesses. The 200-acre estate was soon under the management of Guido, his daughter Laura, and their joint team.

Laura transformed the Agriturismo into the 15th-century structures that were on the estate. It was one of the first farms to open in the late 1980s, along with holiday apartments for guests. She also focused on improving vineyards. Querceto di Castellina has launched a number of new events over the past decade. Mary Shea, Laura’s daughter-in-law, is the one who came up with the idea of vineyard dinners. Add a little magic to the estate and put it on the map. Mary Shea’s destiny was to be a hostess. Mary Shea, originally from the East Coast of the United States, worked in advertising design and creative marketing before moving to Italy. She works in Il bel Pause to create memorable experiences to encourage conversation and gathering.

Wine Dinners

Querceto, in Castellina, hosts vineyard dinners every month between June and September. The events are popular because they bring together travelers, ex-pats, foodies, and aesthetes. Everyone can enjoy good food and wine in a lovely ambiance. The winery collaborates with Albergaccio di Castellina to create delectable and to-die menus. A local restaurant provides bespoke catering and offers delicious Tuscan specialties that are as sophisticated as they can be. Soft ravioli are filled with pigeons, a Tuscan thing. With thinly sliced chianinasteak served with an eggplant parmesan sauce and fresh tomatoes.

Each dinner has a unique menu. There are also options for vegetarians and gluten-free people. The wine pairings make the meal a special one. Each course is accompanied by Querceto di Castellina wine. Servers generously offer guests refills as the conversation grows from a low buzz to a frantic call.

Creative Collaborations

The vineyard dinners over the years have helped to create new friendships and allowed local artisans the opportunity to show off their work. Mary has also been able to expand and connect local communities with tourists by hosting interactive events. It gives me so much motivation to create these dinners, and the collaboration is what I love most. She says, “I want to make everything incredibly creative while honoring Tuscany traditions.” Pop-ups are less about promoting wineries and more about supporting creatives and partners, such as musicians, florists, and caterers.

Mary is always inventing new ways to entertain her guests, old and new. Mary’s “Pizza, Alpaca and Vino,” an afternoon of artisanal pies and Neapolitan Pizzaiolo served to guests, was a sell-out last spring. Mary explains that an alpaca can be a good conversation starter. The playful atmosphere helps people to interact with one another.

Querceto is a great place to stay

Querceto offers its guests the opportunity to stay for an overnight or a whole week to take advantage of all the property’s activities. In a large farmhouse bedroom, you can wake up to a luxurious bed bathed in Tuscan sunshine. You’ll also be treated to a continental breakfast made from scratch. Enjoy a freshly made cappuccino while you enjoy the expansive views of the estate. Relishing a hike in the vineyards, a swim in the pool, and a glass of “Livia,” a delicious white wine that is a perfect blend between Viognier & Roussanne, can lead to endless evenings stargazing and enjoying simple and satisfying food outside. Laura, the name of their best-selling red wine, also offers cooking lessons to guests. She shows visitors how to recreate a Tuscan dinner at home anywhere in the globe.