My good friend and inveterate world traveler, Tom, ask me to join him on a Butterfield & Robinson bike tour of Tuscany. I told him with all my travels this year I was in pretty mediocre shape. He said “Come anyway, and use an e-bike and you’ll have a fun time!” It just wasn’t just fun,…it was FABULOUS!

There is a special alchemy for a superb bike trip and my tour last week was the very best of any of my close to 25 European bike tours! For me it starts with the guides and Luca and Manny were perfect with all the little things and the big and surprising elements they brought to the party! Of course the chemistry of the group, the accomodations, the cuisine, and since we were in beautiful Tuscany…THE WINES!

Yours truly decked out in lycra and my e-bike in the Tuscan hills. Tuscany is among many other things a land of ups and downs. This was my 3rd time riding in the region and I must say the e-bike did help “flatten” the hills.

The guides took very good care of us with morning stops on the road for snack and water refills, along with coffee breaks at selected spots on the routes.

Tom and Jenny on the road. They both had just come from a B & R bike tour of Romania with the company founders the week before. We were a good trio as we liked to hit the hills with gusto. The “Turbo” setting helped us up the steep pitches. It’s an electric bike but you still must peddle! They both are excellent and strong cycists! Tom has been on 75 bikes trips throughout the world!!!

This is the ancient entrance to Fattoria La Loggia where we had our first lunch in picturesque Montefiridolfi in the heart of Chianti Classico.

They set up a beautiful table with enchanting views of the Tuscan hillsides and rows of vineyards. Butterfield and Robinson is unique as they offer wonderful and copious amounts of fine wines at lunch and dinner. And, yes, somehow we had to get on the bikes after all the wine!

We stayed two nights at the luxurious and beautiful, Como Castello De Nero Hotel. Tom and I are enjoying our Aperol Spritzes before the first group dinner.

The hotel is part of a 740 acre estate 30 minutes from Florence and Siena. A 12th century castle stands in the heart of the property. This is the view as I walked outside for breakfast which was fabulous.

Lunch on day 2 was at the Trattoria da Bule in Bargino. Our guide, Manny, and a waiter brought out huge slabs of Bistecca alla Fiorentina which is famous in the region and usually served rare.

We enjoyed white and red wines from the area at lunch. Luca heard I enjoyed good Italian wines and ordered one of my favorites, Tignanello from the Antinori Estate. This is a perfect example of how great tour guides can really make a trip…PERFECT!

A short van ride from the hotel took us to La Pia Percussina, a boutique biological farm estate, for dinner.

Tom and I raise a glass in their lighted vineyard. I’m beginning to think,…“How can I convince Marla we are moving to…Tuscany?”

We met up in Castellina in Chianti. Marla and I loved this town while on a visit in 2018. We stayed at a fabulous wine estate just down the hill. Check out my previous post Castello la Leccia.

I’m decked out in my new Butterfield & Robinson jersey and mountain bike shorts.

Tom is getting psyched for the ride!

A beautiful chapel on the road. Riding in the region is on an assortment of 2, 1 & 1/2, and 1 lane roads. Italian drivers are very curteous for cyclists and will give their horn a couple of short bursts if they are behind you to let you know.

We arrived at the enchanting Antico Granaio in Monteaperti.

Our hostess described all the local delicancies laid out for our lunch. Did I mention the wines?

Another wonderful B & R trip amenity,…muscians played at a few lunches and almost every dinner!

A view of the countryside.

We stayed one evening at the Grand Hotel Continental in Siena.

Leanne and Gary listen to our expert Siena tour guide, Lucia Coppi.

The Siena Cathedral is a stunning church designed and completed between 1215 and 1263.

The incredible dome high above.

The majestic pulpit carved out of Carrara marble by Nicola Pisano between 1265 and 1268.

Though Siena was especially crowded for mid-September, quiet lanes were still there for exploration.

A striking feature of the Piazza del Duomo is the column of the “She-Wolf.”According to legend the sons of Remus were the original founders of Siena. Romulus and Remus, born of a she-wolf, had founded Rome, but when Romulus killed Remus his sons feared for their lives and fled the city. As they fled Rome, they stole the statue of the She-Wolf from Apollo’s temple.

After the finish of our Siena tour Manny brought over a tray of Aperol Spritzes. I always feel a spritz or two is very welcome after a city tour! Thank you Manny!

Dinner was on our own in Siena for the night. Tom, Jenny, Leanne, Gary and I had dinner at a nearby restaurant. The food was totally forgettable but the wine was super! By the end of the meal Tom was actually speaking in fluent Italian! I really had no idea he spoke the language! And, yes…I stand by my story!

We had a lovely coffee break on our way to lunch.

A luncheon toast at Osteria di Brolio, Ricasoli’s wonderful tavern on the grounds of the estate just down the road from the castle’s entrance.

The Brolio Castle, high up a steep path on the hill, has been the property of the Ricasoli family since 1141. The estate is still home to the descendants of Barone Ricasoli

We stayed the last two nights at the stunning Hotel Le Fontanelle in Pianella. I loved getting up early and having breakfast outside. Each morning I would have two cappuchinos followed by a pot of coffee. I find getting caffeined up helps propel my cycling up Tuscany many hills.

I took an early morning walkaround at the beautiful property.

This was one of my favorite photos with the verdant valley below and wisps of morning mists.

Our last day’s ride was a loop to the hillside towns of Radda and Gaiole-in-Chianti.

I’m in nirvana at La Botegga bike and cycling shop in Gaiole-in-Chianti. The L’Eroica is a famous non-competitive bike ride featuring many un-paved “white roads.”

Our last ride up the hill to the hotel made us all a little sad! We truly had a wonderful week in magical Tuscany.

Our last group dinner was fabulous Vallepicciola Winery owned by the same people as our hotel. We toured the amazing facility tasting fantastic wines on the way.

We settled in for a delightful evening of the wineries’ best wines and their superb olive oils. Yes, we had live musical accompaniment once again. The assortment of diverse wines was happily poured and the multi-course meal was simply sensational.

As usual, I got a little overly excited (no surprise to those who know me) and ordered a mixed case of their best wines. I can’t wait for it to arrive next month!

Kudos to Butterfield & Robinson and our guides Luca and Manny for a job supremely well done! Thank you for the joy you provided for our entire group!

Tom, Jenny, and I stayed an extra night in Florence after the tour ended. I made a reservation at Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco, a delicious little spot my family and I first dined at 38 years ago. It is one of Stanley Tucci’s favorite restaurants in Florence and was featured on his CNN show, “Searching for Italy.” It was as delicious as ever! We all raised a glass to friendship and adventure. I truly hope we can do another trip together soon!

Marla and I dining at the same resturant 38 years ago!

Photos: Dick Gentry. Not to be used without permission.