Enoteca Alessi

I did the traditional tasting, which included 3 wines: from Chianti, Montepulciano, and Montalcino. The owner was very friendly. She explained the wines and regions to me, and answered all of my questions. Great experience tasting these regions without having to leave Florence or pay for a tour.

This is a real gem of a place. Not only can you buy a bottle and drink it right in the establishment, there are all sorts of fantastic foods, pasta, etc (to be bought and cooked at home… as this is not a restaurant). They also make their own balsamic vinegar (but have a bunch to choose from too) which is a very big deal in Italy. I don’t think they make the specific balsamic vinegar that is aged for over 12 years in 12 different barrels… that is a kind of special designation that only 50 proprietors are designated. That said, I believe the kind that Enoteca Alessi makes is special and used for cooking and dipping, especially good with cheeses.
I highly recommend visiting this establishment and getting a local flare. The owner was great, as she was very helpful in guiding us to the right wines and tasting some vinegars. Be sure to go downstairs and look around as the tables are really fun (made out of wine boxes) and some lights are old bottles of wine. Enjoy!

Goodness! If all enotecas in Italy were this grandiose, I’d be shocked to find a single non-​alcoholic in this country. That said, considering the legal drinking age, I’m already a bit on the befuddled end.
In addition to various oils and vinegars (undoubtedly locally sourced and carefully selected), the multiple extensive walls of booze made my jaw drop. Each section was proudly labelled, not unlike Astor Wines in NYC, with products ranging from major brands (think the Diageos, Pernod Ricards, and Bacardis of the world) to a dizzying array of obscure difficult-​to-​find-​beyond-​Italian-​borders amaros and other aperitifs. Truly, if I thought I could have fit more into my already overtaxed rollaboard suitcase, I would have packed at least a dozen or two bottles of potable bitters home with me.
That’s not to mention the veritable –cavern– of wine downstairs. Surrounded by wood panelling and reverent lighting, the selection of available vintages is beyond what a wine novice like myself could describe. You just have to see it for yourself.
And on the topic of wine… the reason I came to Enoteca Alessi was at the invitation of an acquaintance, who highly recommended a wine tasting here. This particular tasting was for a vertical from Mormoreto — a local winery nestled into the hills near Florence. The fellow who led us through the tasting had an epic presence of delivery; whether he was exceedingly practised or a natural orator, I was enthralled without even understanding more than a tiny fraction of his explanations of the wines we had (a 2010, 2005, and 1995 if you must know).
After the initial round of laying down histories and dramatic sagas, along with engaging discourse on terroir and soil microbiology, an assistant brought forth ample plates of crusty breads, the freshest of olive oils (it being oil-​pressing season), bruschetta, and charcuterie. The offerings were more than our small band of six or eight people could finish.
All told, it was a pricey € 37 per head for the entire experience, but one that lasted on toward about two hours, by my estimation. In proper Italian style, nothing was rushed, the banter reigned, and the hospitality was unparalleled.
If you’re into home bartending and proper cocktails, you’ll be well-​served by a visit to Enoteca Alessi. Similarly, for the wine enthusiasts out there, even the most well-​educated would have a thing or two to learn from the staff. And if someone generously invites you to a wine tasting here… for the love of all that is good and right in the world, snap up that offer before the next thought passes through your mind.