April 14 Tuscan Food & Wine Tasting Class

GIVEAWAY: We are teaming up with Pino’s Pozzo Divino wine shop to give away two things. Those who sign up for the April 14 food and wine tasting class (6 pm) by sending a email to info@magentaflorence.com will qualify for a FREE wine tasting held at the shop. Second prize, a FREE bottle of wine of your choice to send home. Rules: after signing up, like this post as well as our Facebook page, Magenta Florence & Vista magazine, in order to enter. Two names will be drawn at random and the winners notified. Good luck!

After two months of hard work and renovation, Pino, known for his sandwiches here in Florence, is reopening his wine shop, Pozzo Divino on via Ghibellina 144/r on the corner of via Ghibellina. The complete redesign of the space includes a basement that is better equipped for larger groups and an expansion into the upstairs room as a wine shop.

The new downstairs layout is a cellar that houses wine from all over Italy as well as expansive counters that house traditional Tuscan cold cuts and cheeses. It was made to better accommodate bigger groups that might not be able to find anywhere else in town. The upstairs portion remains a wine shop that carries a different selection of wines depending on the season.

Specifically, Pozzo Divino specializes in two things: sending wine all over the world and tailored wine tastings for groups who want to enjoy an authentic experience that is unlike the tourist traps spread around the city.

The wine tasting (€20) lasts two hours, and is conducted by Pino himself in English. The first hour or so is an in-depth lesson that gives the audience a look into the true world of Tuscan wines. This is followed by the actual wine tasting and is concluded with a social time at the end where people can mingle and ask Pino questions.

The wine included in the tasting consists of one white and two reds. All three wines are specific to the Tuscan region because he wants to give people a taste of the region they are currently in, so they can understand it better. This is unless a group requests otherwise, as Pino is always happy to change and offer different vintages.

The first red wine brought out is always a Chianti Classico because he feels it is the essential taste of Florence. Then, the second red wine, as well as the white, change depending on the climate and options for the year. This is because he is constantly working to find the best wines available as it changes every year due to the different conditions farms may face.

Fresh meats and cheeses from this region always accompany the wine as well.  Also included is a unique olive oil and balsamic tasting included that builds upon the already extensive Tuscan experience.

The other highlight of this shop is the ability to send wines all over the world, which they have been doing for 10 years now. This has proven to be especially of interest to the students studying here that want to send wine home to family and friends. It usually takes about two weeks to ship, but can arrive in as little as one. The most popular option is the Chianti Classico. (emma zamec)