Tuscany is enchanting; one might call it a fairytale land where wine connoisseurs frolic in the hills living out their dreams. The highly praised film Under The Tuscan Sun quite simply does not do this extravagant place justice, and I came to this conclusion the moment I set foot in this tranquil escape. Rolling hills, endless seas of green, horses grazing and galloping lazily in the lush grass…it’s baffling to me that some people are actually fortunate enough to live in this region of Italy. My Tuscan adventure began at a small vineyard that was started by three brothers over their shared love of Italian delicacies such as wine, olives, and freshly baked bread. When I first arrived at the quaint vineyard on the hill, I was guided to the establishment’s greenhouse, stables, and the shed where the wine was produced.

The quick walking tour of the picturesque grounds was followed by a wine, cheese, and bread tasting on a terrace that overlooked the Tuscan hills. The melt in your mouth cheeses and fluffy, bouncy bread we were served complimented each other perfectly in every aspect: texture, taste, consistency, you name it. It was impeccable.

Following the immensely satisfying tasting, I boarded a bus en-route to the small town of San Gimignano. The town towers over Tuscany with its beautiful brick and stone buildings that stand tall despite years of wear and tear. This Tuscan town is situated atop a hill, and the winding cobblestone streets that lead into the bustling center are peppered with the sweetest souvenir shops. To top it off, Sam Gimignano is home to the world’s BEST gelato shop. No, I’m not kidding. And yes, the rose lycée and passionfruit flavors that I decided on were to die for. As much as I would love to write pages upon pages about the place I’d like to retire, I know I should stop myself here to keep it short and sweet otherwise I will go into a long-winded tangent about my new home. Bye for now.