I have many fond memories of  growing up in Western Massachusetts. Even with the changing seasons and miserably long winters it seems like we were always outside. I remember playing for hours in my next door neighbor Dave's  backyard. Dave had a real handyman for a dad who built a wooden replica of a medieval castle in the yard. It became the favorite hangout for most of the kids in the neighborhood.

Last month while traveling through Italy I had a flashback to those fun times of my childhood. Europe is full of beautiful old castles but certainly one of the most impressive is the castle of Montalcino. Its construction began in 1361 and it is practically completely intact today.

When we arrived at the castle with our host, Alberto Passeri from the La Gerla wine estate, the sun was setting and the temperature was dropping quickly. Alberto wanted to show us the wine shop and tasting room which is now located on the ground floor of the castle. Perhaps we could taste a couple of Brunellos and then move on to dinner...but we had different ideas. Today it functions like a museum and for a couple of euros they allow you to explore the rest of the fortress.
With its dark spiral staircases, leading up to watchtowers with incredible views of the surrounding countryside, it felt like we had stepped back in time. One of those memorable moments that make you feel like a kid again.

Alberto Passeri [second from the left] and a bunch of kids from ABC in the Castle of Montalcino.

Paul Quaglini