On my list of Things to Do in Europe was "take cooking class." Today
Dan and I crossed that off the list. And went wine tasting on top of
it. So I guess that was a bonus.

We went out with a group to the Chianti Rufina region to learn all
about making olive oil and Chianti, make pasta, and drink a lot of
wine.

Unlike other tours I've taken, we didn't see much of the countryside,
but we did get to cook in the beautiful home of a local woman. Not
only was her home amazing, but she made us some of the best
supplements to go with the pasta we made, including a ridiculously
amazing grilled/marinated eggplant, salad with the freshest vegetables
and balsamic vinegar that almost tasted like a baslamic reduction, an
awesome dessert with whipped cream, fruit, and merenge, and some
really fabulous coffee.

The very BEST part of the trip was that I bought a 2000 Chianti Rufina
Gran Reserve (to qualify for this title the wine must come from the
vineyard's best grapes - the ones facing South on the top of a hill -
and age for 2 years in white oak barrels) for 24 Euros. That is pretty
unheard of.

Great day, but our breakable souvineers are beginning to stack up, so
if anyone has advice about the best way to get that sort of stuff
home, I am all ears.