This past weekend, I went to Andrea’s friend’s villa in Montefiascone for Fiera del Vino (festival of wine). Montefiascone found its way on the map hundreds of years ago went Cardinal Defuk’s assistant traveled to Rome, stopping in villages along the way to test wine for his boss’ journey. When finding wine worthy of the cardinal (who enjoyed libations like all clergy of the time), he wrote “Est” on the doors of the wine cellars.
“Est” in Latin means “Here”. The assistant was so impressed with the wine of Montefiascone that many cellar doors were emblazoned with “Est! Est! Est!” When the Cardinal finally made his journey down from the north, he ended up staying in Montefiascone, until his death. He is buried in the church in town and requested that a bottle of his beloved wine be poured over his tomb every year. And that is how wine from this small mountain town has become so famous.
There were eight of us staying at the villa on Friday night. After a dinner of bruschetta, pasta, grilled meats and vegetables, we went into the town of Montefiascone to sample some of this infamous wine. It was good! On Saturday, only four of us remained for the peak night of the festival…the open wine cellars. Ten euro got us a glass with holder and tickets to nine different wine cellars. We made it to five. My favorite wine of the evening was a merlot from the cellar of Antica Cantina Leonardi.
The town itself was enchanting. Old buildings built into the side of hills, windy cobble stone streets and the best part, a tranquil lake. On Saturday afternoon, we walked around the lake and the town. On Sunday we closed up the villa and headed back to Rome. A wonderful, intoxicating weekend in la citta di Montefiascone.
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| Sunset at the Villa |
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