Tuscany is one of Italy’s most renowned wine regions, and Florence serves as its gateway. The region is famous for producing high-quality wines, notably Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
Arriving in Florence, there’s one place indispensable to the city’s culinary life: the Mercato Centrale.
Its strategic position, close to the station — that most popular of landmarks — makes it a particularly cherished spot, both for locals and for passers-through like us.
Don’t be put off by its rather plain exterior, designed by the architect Giuseppe Mengoni in 1874. The interior is astonishingly modern, bursting with colours, overflowing local culinary aromas and music. Since 2014, this space has been transformed into a lively food market, offering a wide range of prepared dishes, local specialities, wines, fresh pasta and other Italian delights. Visitors can sample a variety of dishes prepared on the spot.
An exceptional wine bar sits at the back of the market, “The Wine House“, and rounds off perfectly the discovery of the Italian flavours everywhere in this market. Every code is respected to the letter! Pizza, pasta with every kind of sauce, desserts and, of course, Italian wines.
During our tastings we were able to sample some lovely wines:
Torre delle Grazie – Rosso di Montalcino 2021
A pretty pale, light robe; on the nose it tickles you with its hyperactive red-fruit aromas. On the palate it’s round and asserts the presence of raspberry and blackcurrant. It’s nicely balanced and enveloping through the length. Italy is everywhere in its freshness, but without aggressiveness.
Castello Della Paneretta – Riserva 2019
Bright, deep red to the eye, it defends with panache intense scents of blackberry and a light tobacco. On the palate it’s enveloping and of an intense red fruit; the spices that had announced their presence confirm their rank. A fairly fine length, but to my taste that’s no disaster.
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