Greve in Chianti
Driving down the SS222, the Chianti road from Florence to Siena, the first town we meet is Greve in Chianti . Its main attraction is the ancient triangular main piazza with the succession of palazzi, porticoes and loggias. This piazza in Greve was the market place where people came and met every Saturday. Now it becomes particularly cheerful on Easter Monday with the Antiques Fair, in May with the Fair of Flowers and Plants, and in September with the Mostra del Vino Chianti, the most important wine fair of the whole area. On the piazza is the monument to the navigator, Giovanni da Verrazzano. His family's castle, Castello Giovanni da Varrazzano, lies on a hill just a short distance away and is now home to a notable winery. Greve also contains the first concentration of DOCG Chianti Classico producers, who also make excellent IGT wines (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) and Vini da Tavola (Table Wines). The cepage used for these wines is often enriched with grapes from recently planted vines.