👻 October Sips & Stories

Cool air, sticky hands, and the scent of fermenting grapes, October is full-on harvest mode and we’re plunging into tanks. It’s not Halloween yet, but we’re already covered in Sangiovese; known in Latin as Jupiter’s Blood. Here’s what we’re sipping, savoring, and sharing this month.

🎁 Wine Giveaway Alert!

Our first giveaway with more to come in the future! We’re giving away 6 bottles that represent the heart of Grapestained and wines from producers we visit on tours and pour at tastings. We want you to have a taste of what we do! After the winner is selected, we will send the 6-pack of wine directly to your door from Florence, Italy. This carefully hand-selected pack is perfect for the upcoming holidays.

Included Wines:

• La Nascosta - Gisso Sauvignon Blanc - Castiglione d’Orcia, Tuscany

• Cà du Ferrà – Luccicante Vermentino - Levanto Hills PDO (Cinque Terre)

• Iviti - S90 Syrah - Cortona DOC

• Chianti Classico DOCG - Podere Bucine - Montefioralle

• Brunello di Montalcino DOCG - La Fornace - Montalcino

• Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG - Contucci - Montepulciano

That’s $300 of wine, shipping included, for one lucky Scarpetta Club member!

To enter:

1. Subscribe to the newsletter ✔️

2. 👉 Upgrade to the Scarpetta Club

   • If you were already a Scarpetta Club Member, you’re automatically entered

📦 Winner announced October 21st, live from Florence.

📍 Where We Are

We’re bouncing along the backroads of Tuscany. From picturesque Montefioralle to wine heaven Montalcino, we are checking in with winemakers mid-harvest, tasting fermenting must straight from the tank, and sneaking a few fresh Schiacciate con l’Uva when no one’s watching. Sticky hands. Purple teeth. Happy hearts. This season is Tuscany at its best.

💼 Sponsor of the Month: Tuscany Uncorked

Looking to explore Tuscany with a true local? Tuscany Uncorked offers private day trips out of Florence, guiding you through the region’s wine country, hilltop towns, and hidden gems with ease, charm, and deep local knowledge.

Gabriele is our trusted driver, wine educator, and the expert behind Tuscany Uncorked, and we partner with them on every Grapestained tour. Gabriele isn’t just our driver, he’s family.

👉 Book your private trip with Gabriele at Tuscany Uncorked

🍷 Wine of the Month

Cabernet Franc from Podere La Chiesa in the hills of Pisa. A little-known producer in a lesser-known region, with some truly unique and strong winemaking abilities; exactly what we love.

Their Cabernet Franc is excellent for the season as we shift into fall. Deep, complex, layered, and extremely memorable with every sip. The longer it sits in your glass, the more it opens up and changes - the marks of an excellent wine. It is meant to be savored and enjoyed with the best people around you, just like the autumn season.

Want to bring Podere La Chiesa home?

• Order Form PDF

• Podere La Chiesa Price List

• How to Buy

🍽️ Dish of the Month: Porcini

You know it’s fall in Italy when the porcini hit the markets and the smell of wet earth rises from every vendor. There aren’t many things as enjoyable as going to a local farmers market the day after porcini pop up across forests in Central Italy.

This ingredient is so powerful and rich in umami flavor that just one piece steals the show. Cooking porcini is a lot of fun, but you have to make sure to keep the recipes simple to let these beautiful mushrooms shine. A little olive oil, garlic, and shallot is all it takes. Add them to pasta or risotto, and you have a perfect autumn dish.

Our three favorite porcini dishes are:

• Tagliatelle ai Porcini

• Risotto ai Porcini

• Crostini ai Porcini

All of these recipes will be available this month to our Scarpetta Club members. Not a member yet, but wanting these recipes? Sign up today to become part of our growing community and get access to recipes, discounts on wines and tours, and more monthly stories.

🛒 Monthly Buy

There’s nothing quite like extra virgin olive oil straight from the source. From the rolling hills of Montepulciano and Montefollonico, this liquid gold comes from the same family-run farm where we stay during our Val d’Orcia tours; a place that embodies small-batch, organic, local tradition.

Hand-picked from 600 olive trees and cold-pressed within 24 hours, this oil preserves every drop of flavor, aroma, and nutrients. With a mix of Frantoio, Leccino, Moraiolo, and Pendolino olives, it’s fruity, vibrant, and layered, sometimes bitter or peppery; perfect for drizzling over fresh pasta, roasted vegetables, or a simple bruschetta.

Shipped directly from Sabrina at Agriturismo Pescaia, it arrives at your door within 1–2 weeks — fresh, flavorful, and ready to elevate every dish.

Order now by replying to this email!

• 2L - €40 (+€40 shipping)

• 3L - €60 (+€40 shipping)

• 4L - €80 (+€40 shipping)

Tip: 100 kg of olives produce just 9–12 liters of this olive oil. Savor it while you can!

🧑‍🌾 Small Business Spotlight: Al Canto del Forno

Meet Gianluca, one of the most charming and lovely people you will ever find. He brings people directly into his beautiful home in Montefioralle in Chianti Classico and teaches how to cook things the right way: wood-fired ovens, wild yeast, flour dust on every surface, seasonal and local ingredients, and a passion fueled by his heart and love for food.

We take all of our group tours that pass through Montefioralle for an unforgettable lunch cooking with Gianluca, but you can also visit him on your own. Send him a message and give him a big hug from us! We can’t wait to hear about the time you ate the world’s best tiramisu with one of our favorite chefs in Tuscany.

Find Gianluca here:

• Instagram

• Facebook

• [email protected]

Be on the lookout for some of recipes and videos from Gianluca coming soon!

🍇 Producer Spotlight: Podere Bucine (Montefioralle, Chianti Classico)

Located up the hill from Gianluca, keep your eyes on this hilltop gem in the future - Podere Bucine. This winery is small, soulful, and everything we love about Chianti Classico.

Loreto is a great friend, making wines that are honest, alive, and perfect for every occasion. The views from his vineyards are stunning, as they overlook the enchanting Montefioralle in the distance. Loreto is newer to the game, but he is gaining a name for himself quickly with his excellent production. Teaming up with his 100+ year vines of Sangiovese, Loreto has a lot to give. These wines will make you crave another sip and pair perfectly with your favorite pastas.

🎥 Full story and video feature coming soon.

Find Loreto here:

• Instagram

• Facebook

🗓️ Events

We’re scheduling private tastings for November, December, and January, and we’d love to plan something unforgettable with you.

The laughter around the table, the joy of discovery, and the magic that happens when you pour a wine with a story alongside food that feels like home is what our tastings are all about.

Here’s what to expect at a Grapestained tasting:

🍷 Small-production wines, sourced directly from the producer

🍝 Regional, soulful dishes paired to perfection

🌍 An atmosphere that transports you. No passport needed

👨‍🌾 Real connection to the producers through stories, food, and wine

🎉 A night full of conviviality, culture, and a little delicious chaos

🛒 The chance to order wines you love, straight from the source

Whether it’s a cozy dinner at home, a holiday gathering, or just an excuse to celebrate life, we bring Italy to your table.

📅 Want to book a private event or tasting with us this winter?
📬 Email us here to get first dibs. [email protected]

🌍 Wine Region of the Month: Chianti Classico

Between Florence and Siena, this is a land of rolling vineyards, wooded forests, stunning medieval villages, and winding roads lined with olive trees and cypress. Home to the black rooster, and wines that demand a spaghetti pomodoro, a sunset, and your full attention.

Being close to Florence, this area is beloved by both tourists and locals, and provides great getaways in villas, agriturismos, and hotels.

Chianti Classico is also famous abroad for the Fiasco bottle. Once bottled in those iconic straw flasks after WWII, these wines became symbols of Italian hospitality abroad. For a time, the fiasco was everywhere, from trattorias to checkered-tablecloth spaghetti dives across Little Italy in Manhattan. Eventually, the rustic look became known for “cheap wine,” and quality-conscious producers moved away from it. Today, fiaschi live on as nostalgic décor, but don’t be surprised if you find one still filled with fresh, charming table wine, especially in the countryside.

✈️ Travel Tip of the Month: Local Farmers Markets

• Early Bird Advantage:
  Arrive when the stalls open. You’ll get first pick of fresh porcini, figs, cheese, and fresh bread. Fewer crowds means more time to chat with farmers.

• Taste Before You Buy:
  Don’t just stroll. Taste everything you can; olive oils, cheeses, cured meats, fruits, etc. Let your nose and tongue guide your purchases.

• Bring Cash:
  Many small vendors are old-school. A few coins and bills can go a long way toward fresh porcini or a bundle of grapes.

• Talk to the Farmers:
  Ask where they are from and how the produce was grown. Most farmers love sharing stories about their land, harvest rituals, and secret recipes. If you give them an idea of what you’re in the mood to cook, they will put the ingredients together for you.

• Skip the Tourist Spots:
  Wander a few streets past the main piazza and look for smaller markets. These are where the locals shop and often have the best hidden gems and friendliest vendors. Weekend markets in piazzas are excellent. In Florence, try Mercato Sant’Ambrogio for the best products.

• Pick Seasonal:
  October is grape, pear, apple, sweet potato, chestnut, squash, and mushroom season. Let the stalls inspire what you cook that evening.

🎥 Video of the Month: Lampredotto

In Florence, there’s a sandwich that will make you question everything you thought you knew about food. Lampredotto. The fourth stomach of a cow, slow-cooked until tender, then dunked in a rich, herby broth and stuffed into a perfect piece of bread. You might hesitate. You might think, “Stomach... Do I really want to eat that?” But then you take a bite, and suddenly you understand why generations of Florentines line up at tiny street stalls eager for this glorious panino. Italians hate to waste any piece of food, which has thankfully led us to this greasy little revelation.
Trust us, one bite and you’ll be whispering "ma che buonissimo."

🧠 Did You Know That?

Every September and October in Tuscany, locals take the grapes that didn’t quite make it into the wine press and turn them into something magical? They snack on them fresh from the vine and fold them into soft, golden bread called Schiacciata con l’Uva, letting the grapes’ natural sweetness do all the work. Bakeries in villages and cities alike display them in the windows, and the scent of sweet grapes wafts around every corner, making it impossible not to try a piece at each stop. It’s a humble harvest tradition that tastes like autumn in every bite: a little chewy, a little sweet, and full of Tuscan charm.

📖 Phrase of the Month (Italian Edition)

“Piano piano si va lontano”

Translation: Slowly, slowly one goes far.
A gentle reminder to slow down. Especially when cooking... or sipping. A great way to look at life, and say to yourself when you’re feeling stressed; “No rush. Piano piano” . Cheers to slowing down this year and taking in the beautiful season with a good glass of wine in hand!

👀 What’s Coming Next

We’re working on a wave of stories, videos, and features from our autumn in Italy.
✨ Plus, the long-awaited What Wine Are You? quiz is almost ready to uncork. Think: personality meets pour. Get ready to find your perfect match.

• Our Producer Feature of Podere Bucine 

• The art of tasting wine. How to turn every sip into an adventure