#Relais Ruffino

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Relais Ruffino: eccellenza vinicola nel cuore della natura

Ruffino, storica azienda vitivinicola toscana, inaugura il suo primo Relais nella Tenuta di Poggio Casciano in Toscana, per un’esperienza di degustazione immersi nella storia e nella bellezza

Ruffino: oltre 140 anni di storia

Ruffino, storica azienda e bandiera vitivinicola della Toscana, ha inaugurato il suo primo Relais.

Relais Ruffino si trova all’interno della tenuta di Poggio Casciano, a Bagno di Ripoli, in una maestosa villa rinascimentale del XIV secolo

A fare da cornice alla bellezza, un immenso e incantevole giardino all’italiana. Ma soprattutto i vigneti e le cantine Ruffino, in cui si producono alcuni dei vini più iconici dell’azienda: Modus Toscana IGT e Alauda Toscana IGT.

Con il suo primo Relais, Ruffino vuole offrire ai suoi ospiti un’esperienza unica e autentica della Dolce Vita italiana, di cui è fedele ambasciatore nel mondo.

Relais Ruffino, solo per amanti del vino

Relais Ruffino è un luogo unico che unisce al bien vivre la possibilità di tuffarsi nella storia, nella natura e, ovviamente, nella tradizione vinicola.

Una volta arrivati in questo luogo magico, gli ospiti potranno soggiornare in sette stanze immerse nei profumi dei vigneti del Chianti, a meno di 10 km da Firenze. Sette camere matrimoniali che si affacciano sul parco della tenuta.

Le camere sono state ristrutturate secondo lo stile country, perfettamente adatto all’identità del luogo, richiamando il fascino e l’eleganza dell’epoca rinascimentale. Rinascimento sì, ma senza rinunciare ai comfort dell’era moderna, come free wifi e aria condizionata.

Gli ospiti di Relais Ruffino saranno letteralmente circondati dalla natura e, tra vigneti e aria pulita, potranno concedersi un tuffo in acqua, nella meravigliosa piscina a sfioro aperta nel periodo estivo. Oppure usufruire del campo di bocce e della sala biliardo.

Ma la permanenza in Relais Ruffino non pu�� essere completa senza trascorrere un’intera giornata immersi nel mondo del vino. 

Passeggiando tra le vigne immersi nel fascino e nelle pace dei paesaggi toscani o visitando, con l’aiuto di una guida, le antiche cantine Ruffino, si potranno scoprire tutti i segreti di produzione di una delle più storiche aziende vinicole del territorio. Dulcis in fundo, spazio alla degustazione, con i vini simbolo della Toscana.

L’eccellenza vinicola sarà accompagnata dagli autentici sapori toscani preparati dalle cuoche della Locanda Ruffino, adiacente al Relais di Poggio Casciano.

Locanda Ruffino è aperta da lunedì a venerdì a pranzo dalle 12.00 alle 14.00 e dal giovedì al lunedì a cena a partire dalle 19.30

Un tuffo nel passato

Charles Baudelaire diceva: “Chi beve solo acqua ha un segreto da nascondere”

E Ruffino, eccellenza vinicola conosciuta in tutto il mondo, lo sa bene.

Ruffino è stata fondata nel 1877 a Pontassieve, vicino Firenze.

Grandi classici come Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale e Riserva Ducale Oro, Chianti Ruffino e Brunello di Montalcino, Greppone Mazzi, sono da sempre il cuore della sua produzione.

Oltre agli evergreen, Ruffino non si ferma e si apre a nuove sfide creando imponenti Supertuscan, fra cui il pluripremiato Modus, e acquisendo, nel 2018, due tenute in Veneto per la produzione di Prosecco.

A fine 2011 Ruffino è stata acquisita da Constellation Brands, la più importante azienda vinicola americana, ed è pronta per scrivere un nuovo capitolo della sua illustre storia.

I vini Ruffino sono oggi simbolo di italianità e buon gusto, per questo sono apprezzati non solo in Toscana, ma in quasi 90 paesi di tutto il mondo.

In alto i calici! L’esperienza nel gusto vi aspetta.

Alessandra Borgonovo

Per info e prenotazioni: 055 0981910 o RELAIS@RUFFINO.IT

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Relais Ruffino. Only for wine lovers Relais Ruffino: eccellenza vinicola nel cuore della natura Ruffino, storica azienda vitivinicola toscana, inaugura il suo primo Relais nella Tenuta di Poggio Casciano in Toscana, per un’esperienza di degustazione immersi nella storia e nella bellezza…

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40 Simple (But Important) Things To Remember About Home Architectural Plan | home architectural plan

Tuscany, the arresting arena in axial Italy, is the absolute abode for a alley trip. If you’re attractive for rolling hills, angled vineyards, olive groves, bizarre medieval villages, and outstanding art, you’ll acquisition it all here. After all, Tuscany was the birthplace of Michelangelo, Botticelli, da Vinci, Dante, and endless added masters whose works you can see throughout the area, and appreciative locals will acquaint you that their accent forms the abject of the avant-garde Italian language. Here’s how to actualize your own alley trip, starting in Florence and alive your way south against Rome.

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Photo: Davide Seddio / Getty Images

Fly into Florence and plan to absorb two or three canicule accepting acquainted with the burghal and its absurd Renaissance art and architecture. The Galleria Uffizi and Galleria dell’Accademia abode an absorbing cardinal of Renaissance masterpieces, but Palazzo Pitti—the alcazar of Cosimo I de’ Medici—is account a arrangement as well. Check into the Relais Santa Croce, a comfortable auberge central an 18th-century palazzo that’s home to one of the better suites in Florence or the Rocco Forte Auberge Savoy, which afresh completed a renovation, abacus Pucci-designed fabrics to its lobby. Book a table at La Leggenda dei Frati, a Michelin-starred restaurant that serves adept avant-garde cuisine adjoining to the attractive Bardini Gardens overlooking the city. If you’re attractive to buy home adornment and antiques, pay a arrangement to Riccardo Barthel and the Antico Setificio Fiorentino, breadth artisans accept been aberrant comfortable cottony bittersweet bolt on age-old looms aback 1786.

Toscana Resort Castelfalfi.

Photo: Courtesy of Toscana Resort Castelfalfi

When you’re accessible to get off the baffled path, drive to the baby apple of Montaione, which is set abysmal in the Tuscan hills, about 75 account southwest of Florence. The boondocks is home to Toscana Resort Castelfalfi, which is like a baby village, with two hotels (the best Il Castelfalfi and four-star Auberge La Tabaccaia), a accumulating of villas, a 27-hole golf course, shops, restaurants, and pond pools. Stop by for cafeteria with across-the-board angle of the countryside or use it as a abject for added analysis of the surrounding towns.

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Photo: Getty Images

Two adjacent villages in accurate are account visiting: San Gimignano and Volterra. Though the Leaning Belfry of Pisa may be added famous, the boondocks of San Gimignano is absolutely one of Italy’s best-preserved medieval villages, with 14 building actual intact. The celebrated centermost was appointed a UNESCO World Heritage site, and aimless through the cobblestoned streets will accomplish you feel like you’ve stepped aback in time. For admirable bowls, vases, and added adorning items fabricated of alabaster, arch to Volterra. The boondocks is accepted for its alabaster workshops, like Rossi Alabastri, which you can arrangement to apprentice added about the craft. Abnormality about the celebrated center, you’ll acquisition affluence of shops affairs items fabricated with the clear-cut stone.

Siena’s Piazza del Campo with the Palazzo Pubblico and the Torre del Mangia.

Photo: Getty Images

Continue south to Siena, the medieval belted burghal acclaimed for the alert anniversary Palio horse race. You could absorb hours abnormality through the warren-like bewilderment of streets that annex out from Piazza del Campo, the shell-shaped accessible aboveboard crowned by an iconic alarm tower. Stop at the Duomo di Siena, which is absolutely a afterimage with its green-and-white striped marble façade and Romanesque-Gothic architecture. Climb up to the arch for absurd angle and don’t absence the Piccolomini Library, breadth you can ogle attractive frescoes by Pinturicchio.

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Photo: Ugo Zamborlini

When in Tuscany, you’d be behindhand not to arrangement some wineries, and there are affluence to accept from. Rocca di Frassinello combines abundant wine and architecture, with the region’s alone winery advised by Renzo Piano and absurd wines built-in of a affiliation amid the French Rothschild ancestors and the Tuscan Castellare di Castellina estate. Ruffino’s Poggio Casciano acreage in Chianti welcomes visitors for tours and tastings by appointment. Added big names in the breadth accommodate Antinori and Gaja, which has a winery in Bolgheri.

A bedfellow allowance at Casa Iris.

Photo: Courtesy of Casa Iris

As you assignment your way south, plan to stop in the Maremma, Tuscany’s asperous coastline. In the boondocks of Orbetello abreast Monte Argentario, Italian stylist James Valeri and his American husband, Matthew Adams, afresh opened Casa Iris. Formerly the home of Valeri’s grandmother, the bed-and-breakfast was a “labor of love,” according to Valeri, who enlisted the advice of Maria Rosaria Basileo and her aggregation of bristles women who formed on the restorations of the Sistine Chapel and Villa Borghese. While case aback the layers of paint, they baldheaded a alternation of frescoes dating all the way aback to the 1700s. In abutting accord with artisan Giorgia Cerulli, Valeri and Adams abounding the home with a curated accumulating of accoutrement from the 1920s to the ‘70s by Italian designers like Gio Ponti, Franco Albini, Angelo Mangiarotti, Tommaso Barbi, and Murano bottle chandeliers by Venini sourced all over Italy.

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Hotel Il Pellicano abreast Porto Ercole.

Photo: Ted Gushue

While you’re in the area, Valeri recommends visiting Capalbio, which he describes as “radical chic,” acknowledgment to its history as a anchorage for writers and intellectuals, and the Tarot Garden by French artisan Niki de Saint Phalle, who created a alternation of larger-than-life sculptures. Or artlessly apathetic bottomward and adore the Tuscan way of life. “Our admired affair to do is hire a baiter in Porto Ercole and acquisition your atom and break there for the day,” says Valeri.

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“With some fava beans and a nice chianti…”

The Tuscan countryside in the springtime is nothing short of breathtaking. The undulating hillsides — a patchwork of dramatic greens and yellows so vibrant that they could give the Emerald City a run for its money — appear to be made of soft, silky velvet. Are you sure this is Italy and not the verdant highlands of Ireland? A quick check of Google Maps concurs — definitely Italy.

From the bedroom of our private medieval tower in the tiny enclave of Montecchiello in central Tuscany, we have a bird’s-eye view of the lush, sun-dappled terrain — as well as the spires and towers of the opposing hilltop town of Pienza, once the feudal enemy of Montecchiello — and for miles and miles beyond.

We’ve recently returned from 12 unforgettable days in the Tuscan and Umbrian countryside, starting in Florence, ending in Rome and eating our way through everything in between. Having previously lived in London, Mike and I have been to Italy many times before and have explored many different regions, but our hearts are always pulled back to the incomparable natural beauty and culinary delight of Tuscany. For this trip, Mike planned an itinerary that included some areas and towns that we had not previously visited, as well as a couple in which we simply wanted to spend a little more time. He broke it down into three distinct regions — Chianti, Montepulciano and Umbria — three nights in each and one final night in Rome. In each, he chose a centrally located village to serve as a jumping off point for that region. For brevity sake, I will cover each region in three different posts.

One thing to keep in mind when planning a trip to Italy, as with any travel destination, is the weather and the best time of year to visit. Italy is a long country that spans from the mountainous northern regions abutting Switzerland and Austria, all the way down to the rocky coast of Sicily at the southern tip of the “boot.” The weather patterns and temperatures vary dramatically from one end of the country to the other. Tuscany finds itself conveniently located in central Italy between Florence and Rome, and the weather might be comparable to Virginia or the North Carolina mountains — fairly temperate, yet cool in the winter and hot in the summer. Apparently, that makes for the perfect grape-growing conditions because Tuscany is abundant with vineyards and famous for creating some of the world’s great wines. For travelers, the very best time to visit is late May/early June — when it’s starting to explode with color but before the heart of the European tourist season begins — or alternately mid-September — after the bulk of the summer tourists have left and the vines are laden with grapes just prior to the harvest.

If you have never visited Tuscany before, you will want to start with the tried-and-true favorites — Florence, Sienna, Assisi, Lucca, and so on. All are beautiful, historic cities that must not be missed. But since Mike and I had already had the opportunity to visit those unforgettable destinations, he looked for some slightly less traveled locales, specifically focusing on the wine regions of Chianti and Montepulciano because, hey, who doesn’t like good wine and good food?!

Mike researched this trip for weeks to create a varied, yet tight itinerary. He exactingly planned out each day’s route, factoring in the distances between destinations and how long we would need to fully appreciate each town or village. He spent all that time doing the research, so you don’t have to.

But despite all of the time and effort put into the preparations, no trip is without its unique challenges. That’s just part of the inherent complexity of travel. Nothing – no matter how much you try to plan and prepare — is fool-proof.

Our first challenge came on day one, as we attempted to land in Florence.  The Florence airport is located in a valley shaped like a bowl and suffers from unusually short runways. As such, it’s impossible for huge, long-haul jets (747s and the like) to land there. Therefore, we planned to fly direct from Chicago to Amsterdam, where we would switch to a smaller jet that could land in Florence. All went as planned until we prepared for our final approach into the Florence airport. Very anxious to finally be at our destination and start our vacation, we noticed that we weren’t getting any closer to the ground. Soon enough, our suspicions were confirmed when the pilot announced that the winds were too high to be able to land safely in Florence. It was then that Mike told me that he had experienced the same situation on a previous flight into Florence. Ultimately, the flight was rerouted to the neighboring city of Bologna, where we were met by hundreds of passengers from other airlines whose flights also had been rerouted to Bologna. As this is obviously a recurring problem, the Bologna airport was well-versed in this exercise and managed the crowds and all their luggage adeptly. Before too long, we were placed on a bus and transported back to the Florence airport (an hour-and-a-half journey), where our rental car was awaiting our arrival. Moral of the story: think twice about flying into Florence. In hindsight, had we realized, we might have done this itinerary in the inverse, flying into Rome and out of Florence. Something to keep in mind for next time.

Although we had unfortunately missed our lunch reservation at Il Vescovino, promising “a fantastic view over the vineyards of Panzano,” we were finally on the road and anxious to reach our first destination: Radda in Chianti. A short drive south of Florence, the Chianti region is the northernmost of the Tuscan wine districts.

Made primarily from the Sangiovese grape, Chianti has been produced in this region for over 300 years. Today, it is most often associated with its distinctive straw-bound bottle (below) and made infamous by Anthony Hopkins in “Silence of the Lambs.” As a result, Chianti wines tend to have the undeserved reputation for being a bit less refined than their neighbors to the south, but, in fact, there are many excellent, highly respected Chiantis, such as the Ruffino Reserva Ducale and the Fontodi Chianti Classico. Chiantis tend to have medium-high acidity and medium tannins (which is especially nice if tannins give you a headache, as they do me). When purchasing Chianti, always look for the trademark Black Rooster seal on every bottle to ensure that you are getting a wine produced in the Chianti region and containing at least 80% Sangiovese grapes.

As you start to make your way through the region, you can’t help but notice that there are grape vines everywhere…and I mean everywhere — in back yards, behind restaurants and on every possible hillside. No matter how small the tract of land, every square inch is planted with grapes.

After exiting the autostrade and working our way up the narrow and windy mountain road, we arrived in the medieval hilltop town of Radda to find our charming hotel, Relais Vignale. Knackered from the overnight flight, we were anxious to check in and stay put for a few nights. The front-desk staff was extremely friendly and accommodating, even upgrading us to a lovely deluxe room (another benefit of traveling before the main tourist season). Relais Vignale consists of two buildings – the original inn (below left) and a newer annex located across the street. We had requested to be in the main hotel, and we were rewarded with a charming second-floor room (#42) which featured beamed ceilings and a private patio overlooking the scenic countryside.

Relais Vignale, Radda

View from room #42

View from room #42

The room and en suite bathroom were both charming and very well-appointed, although I will admit that the mattress and pillows were a little too firm for my taste and the Wi-Fi, while free, was very weak. But the breakfast spread, served either in the brick-ceilinged lower-level cellar or on the lovely grape-laden terrace, depending on weather, was quite impressive and included a variety of made-to-order egg dishes upon request (included in the room price).

The town of Radda itself is a quaint, little village boasting impressive views of the surrounding farms and vineyards from every vantage point. It is made up of just two streets – one pedestrian and the other the main auto route through town. Relais Vignale is located right on the main street, so you will want to request a room on the back side overlooking the valley below. The entire town of Radda consists of just a few shops and restaurants and a pretty church which is curiously situated above the small piazza. We happened to be there on a Sunday and enjoyed hearing the peeling church bells and seeing the locals in their Sunday finery.

Due to its central location, Radda is well-positioned to be a good jumping off point for day tours of the Chianti region, hence why Mike chose it as our home base for the first three days of our Tuscany experience.

After a good night’s sleep and a much-needed wake-up call by a neighboring rooster, we flung open the shutters to soak up the Tuscan sunshine and the ridiculously lovely view of the countryside. Strengthened by a breakfast of meats, cheeses and pastries, we made a bee-line to the nearby town of Greve to catch their Saturday morning market. Just a short 30-minute drive from Radda, we reached Greve to find it bustling with activity. The market was easy enough to find by simply following the people carrying market baskets and the signs for “Centro” indicating the city center — it’s a good bet to assume that a market will be situated in the main piazza. There we found a maze of vendors selling everything from locally grown veggies (right), regional cheeses and dried fruits to clothing, table linens and nail clippers. It was a feast for the eyes to be sure, but the real gem of Greve is the centuries old macelleria (butcher shop), Antica Macelleria Falorni (below), which is known throughout Tuscany as the very best in the region and was recently recognized by Food & Wine as such. Located adjacent to the main square, you can’t miss it…and shouldn’t miss it, if you have any appreciation for an old-world shop selling quality meats. Founded in 1806, Falorni has been producing world-class salumi, proscuitto, bresaola, and any other cured meat you can think of for generations, all of which you can sample in their tasting room. Our favorite is the finocchiona which takes its name from the fragrant fennel seed sprinkled throughout. Make sure you pack some ziplock baggies to take any piquant acquisitions such as this home in your suitcase…and maybe an extra suitcase as well, like we did.

Antica Macelleria Falorni in Greve

 After procuring all the booty we needed from the Greve market and Antica Macellaria Falorni, we were off to one of our favorite Tuscan towns, San Gimignano. Just a quick 50 minutes away, we arrived in San Gimignano around 10:30 and found parking in one of the designated lots just outside of town. Almost all of the Tuscan towns are pedestrian-only, so parking can be tricky, especially during the high season. Yet another reason to travel slightly off-season.

But regardless of when you visit, San Gimignano is bound to be populated by tourists because it is included in basically every Tuscan tour book ever written, and for good reason. The mid-sized town of San Gimignano once boasted as many as 72 towers at its heyday during the Middle Ages. It was an text book example of the proverbial “keeping up with the Joneses” effect, as each family attempted to outdo the others with a bigger, better and taller tower than their neighbors. Today, San Gimignano only has 14 remaining towers, but that’s about 10 more than any of the other Tuscan villages, so it’s a sight to behold as you see it perched on the hilltop, towers reaching for the sky.

You will enter the walled city through one of two gates and immediately be met by shopkeepers peddling their wares to multitudes of gaping tourists. Most all of the shops in San Gimignano are geared towards tourism, so unfortunately there’s not a lot of substance. I suggest moving right on past the souvenir shops and working your way to the main piazza where you will find people relaxing in the cafes, enjoying the sunshine and a coffee or wine, depending on the time of day. There’s plenty to do and see in San Gimignano, so consult your guide book and plan your visit accordingly. I would, however, suggest a stop at Osteria Del Carcere for lunch. Located just off the main piazza and just far enough away from the maddening crowds, Osteria Del Carcere is a tiny wine bar that serves simple, yet expertly prepared Tuscan fare. The menu posted outside is written only in Italian which tends to keep apprehensive tourists at bay, but don’t let that stop you. As is typical of an osteria, they don’t have a broad menu, and they don’t serve pizzas or pastas. But they do serve beautiful antipasti platters, homemade soups and salads and plenty of wine!

Shaved pear and hazlenut salad

Antipasto

Bar at Osteria del Carcere

There are only 10 or so tables on the two levels and only one server, so plan your time accordingly so that you can relax and linger over your meal, as the Italians do. You will likely notice a variety of handcuffs and other prison-related decorative accents and that is because ‘carcere’ in Italian means prison which may be an indication that the building at one time was a prison or possibly it’s a reference to the torture museum which is located next door (yes, there’s actually a museum dedicated to various means of torture. How medieval is that?!)

After we had had our fill of the sights and flavors of San Gimignano, we headed back to the comfort of our quaint room at Relais Vignale for some R&R. It always takes at least a day to fully recover from the stresses of travel and to adjust to the new time zone, so it’s wise to plan some down time into your first day (see photo right). After a casual dinner at a local osteria, featuring a very memorable goose carpaccio (see below), we returned to the hotel for a nightcap in their charming bar area and then turned in early.

Goose carpaccio

The following morning, being Sunday, Mike didn’t plan anything into the itinerary until lunchtime, so we spent a relaxing morning wandering through town, taking in the sights and sounds of Radda on a peaceful Sunday morning. All of these Tuscan villages are best enjoyed before the tour buses arrive and after they leave in the evening.

For lunch, Mike selected Osteria Le Panzanelle in the valley just below the town of Radda. We had hoped to enjoy their outdoor terrace, but it was still a bit too cool, so they seated us in the upstairs beamed-ceiling dining room. Since it was a Sunday, the place was filled with local families sharing a post-church mid-day meal. We were the only non-Italians, but the staff was welcoming and attentive. My knowledge of Italian, as limited as it may be, did come in handy a few times, although they made every attempt to speak English whenever possible. After a delightful lunch of pecorino and fava bean salad (below left), eggplant involtini (below right), spaghetti alle vongole (spaghetti with clams) and pasta with boar ragu, we set off with full bellies for Castello di Volpaia and our 3:00 reservation to tour their wine and olive oil facilities.

I’m not sure what I was expecting, maybe something similar to the wineries I had visited in Napa or South Africa, but this was definitely nothing like that! First of all, Volpaia isn’t as much a vineyard as it is a tiny medieval town perched on a hilltop surrounded by vineyards in every direction. And when I say tiny, I mean tiny – as in, the whole town consists of less than a dozen stone buildings — 2 of which are churches, as well as a small inn and a darling family-run cafe. I was a little sorry we hadn’t known about the cafe, with its outdoor terrace in the main square, as it appeared to be a very pleasant environment, bustling with activity and patrons enjoying an afternoon of sunshine and plenty of good food and local wines.

Almost all of Volpaia’s ancient structures have been transformed into facilities for the production of their wines and olive oils. From the exterior, the buildings appear to be charming, centuries-old 2-story stone houses, but upon entering, you’re surprised to find the huge steel vats in which the grapes are pressed, strained, fermented and converted into the Chianti for which the area is famous. In another room, you find the giant granite grinding stone used to pulverize the olives for olive oil production (below). Hidden on the second floor is a large room, previously a series of bedrooms in generations past, where the grapes are hung from the beamed ceiling to mature after being harvested from the vineyards. The windows provide natural climate control, and rain is welcome, as it adds just the right amount of humidity to encourage the mold that is necessary to aid in the fermentation process. You may wonder where they store the wine for aging, as we did. Well…under the church, of course! Where else would you expect to find wine storage? We were brought around to the back side of the church and through a nondescript door (photo left below), where we found barrel after barrel after barrel of wine tucked into the dark caverns of the church cellar, unceremoniously awaiting their bottling date.

Oak barrel for aging the Chianti wines

Grinding stone for olive oil production

Our tour guide, a young woman from Sienna who prefers the countryside to the city, was knowledgeable, friendly and had an impressive command of the English language. I suggest you call ahead for a reservation if you’re interested in a tour, as the groups are very small and intimate (www.volpaia.com). After a substantial wine tasting, complete with bruschetta and samplings of their olive oils and flavored vinegars, we left sated and entranced by our afternoon in the tiny enclave of Castello di Volpaia. (There are many other wineries also worth a visit in Chianti — including Castello d’Albola, Castello di Meleto and Castello di Broglio — so if that interests you, make sure to call ahead to schedule tours and tastings.)

Rising early the next morning (day 4), we were giddy with anticipation of the day’s journey to Montepulciano and then on to our next lodging — a medieval tower! — in Monticchiello.

Please check back for part two of my post detailing the Montepulciano wine region and the towns of Monticchiello, Pienza, Montalcino, Castiglione del Lago, Orvieto, Abbazia di Sant’Antimo and Bagno Vignoni.

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Tuscany’s Timeless Treasures "With some fava beans and a nice chianti..." The Tuscan countryside in the springtime is nothing short of breathtaking.