Villa Collegalle is on the road from Strada in Chianti in the direction of Greve. After the town of Chiocchio, there will be a turn into a small dirt road with signposts for Fattoria di Santo Stefano. Follow the signs and you will arrive at the door of the villa. The villa can also be reached from Greve by turning up the hill near the grappa distillery Bonollio.From here drive through the Fattoria di Santa Stefano and then follow the road to the left to the villa. Villa Collegalle via Collegalle, 25 50022 Greve in Chianti (FI) tel 0558549125 fax 0558572390 info@villacollegalle.it

Giovanni Cappelli passed away in May 2007. He will be missed. Judy adore Giovanni Cappelli. He is one of my mentors in Chianti. Some people jokingly call him the "godfather of Chianti." His family goes back 250 years when they owned the Fattoria di Montagliari. He recently sold it and can now be found at Villa Collegalle (pictured left) on road 222 which leads to Chianti from Grassina. He has kept his fabulous "salsa di mosto" production, balsamic vinegar made the old-fashioned way. Since it's not made in Modena, it cannot be labeled balsamic. It's possible to visit his new abode, once the villa of the Antinori family, and buy some of his products and enjoy his company. He has recently restored the houses on the property as rental apartments. All the food he served at the trattoria was fabulous, and the new owners continue his tradition. My favorite way to finish a meal was the Torta di Mele, a warm apple tart. Giovanni Cappelli is one of Chianti's living legends! Try his Torta di Mele recipe NOW! READ ABOUT David Lebovitz Kate Hill Paulette Mitchell Benita Leo Piazzesi Gianni Migliorini Germana Conti Gabriele Ferron Osteria Luchin Federico Bacci Gastronomia Perini Romeo Colzi Dario Cecchini Mimmo Baldi Donatella Lauteri Giovanni Cappelli Fabio Picchi Andrea Francini Click here for Giovanni's recipe for Torta di Mele.