Saturday was Montalcino day - a much-anticipated day in the McFreilich household (particularly on the Freilich side). Our fun foursome arrived in charming Montalcino just as, unexpectedly, the opening festivities of the annual tournament of the "Apertura delle Cacce" - the opening of hunting season in Montalcino - were getting underway. The day event began with folk dancing in the piazza and culminated in the town's choosing the archers who would represent each competing 'contrada' (neighborhood) in the festival's archery tournament. As we wandered the streets of Montalcino, a band from each neighborhood paraded toward the square, dressed in medieval garb and pounding drums and blowing trumpets, followed by residents of the neighborhood, waving flags and decked out in their respective neighborhoods' colors.
The medieval traditions were a happy surprise, but we had traveled to Montalcino to enjoy its most famous attraction, Brunello di Montalcino. Benny and Michael did more than their fair share of tasting, and we went home with more than one bottle of this outstanding wine...
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