Podcast 001 | I'm Nina in Chianti and Chianti Classico is my passion

April 7

Hey there and welcome to the first episode of my podcast, 'A Glass of Wine with Nina in Chianti,' your go-to podcast for all things Chianti Classico. Today, I want to tell you a little bit about myself and how my huge passion for Chianti Classico came to be, why one day I decided to turn this passion into my job, what inspired me to start this podcast, and why this channel might be interesting for you.

I'm Nina in Chianti

My name is Nina Tiefner, and I live in Salzburg, Austria. I was born and grew up in Vienna. I'm married and have two cats. Their names are Bianco and Nero, simply because one of them is a completely white tomcat and the other is a very dark tabby.

I love to cook. I enjoy traveling, especially to Italy or even up north, and I really love having good conversations with people. And, of course, I love a good glass of wine.

Never say never

I grew up with winemaking thanks to my parents, in the Weinviertel region north of Vienna. The 1980s weren't exactly the best time for winemaking in Austria.

Back then, I swore I'd never, ever, ever do anything professionally with wine in my life. Well, never say never! My mother-in-law convinced me to finally take a trip to Tuscany.

It was so important to her because she was convinced it was a great place for me. I wasn't thrilled at first, but she turned out to be right. My husband and I went to Florence for the first time in 1998.

We only stayed there for a few nights because our main trip was planned for Versilia, in Forte dei Marmi. From there, we took many excursions, including one to Chianti, which is that region of Tuscany located between Florence and Siena.

The start of a great love

Chianti is, of course, famous for its wine, which almost everyone knows in those typical round, straw-covered bottles. It was also a very common decor item in every pizzeria in the 80s and 90s, I think, mostly repurposed as candle holders.

Even before the trip, my husband gave me two books: a Tuscany wine guide and the Vini d'Italia wine guide. That one is as thick as the Bible, and for many, it's *the* wine bible for Italian wines.

Even today, we often wonder, why did he actually give me those? He can't explain it anymore either, because as I said, I didn't want anything to do with wine.

Well, love finds a way, because it happened! In a local wine shop in Greve in Chianti, I spent four hours with my two wine books, busy trying to discover the supposedly best wines.

That was the spark for me. I'd say that was the beginning of my great love. Since then, I've nurtured a huge passion for Chianti Classico, that famous red wine from Tuscany.

My second home

A few years ago, I even turned this passion into my job by launching my online shop NinaInChianti.com, where you can find wines exclusively from winemakers in Chianti Classico.

Over all these years, I've not only learned to appreciate the wine, but especially the people, the landscape, the culture, and last but not least, the food too.

Tuscan cuisine, also known as Cucina Povera, or 'poor people's kitchen,' is often very simple but no less delicious. And Chianti Classico definitely tastes amazing with it.

I regularly travel to Panzano in Chianti, about 8-10 times a year. It's a beautiful place located exactly between Florence and Siena, and all in all, I spend almost three months a year there.

When I'm in Chianti, I visit wineries all over, big and small. I chat with the locals, soak up the beautiful scenery, and enjoy nature. I also hit up the local wine festivals and, of course, go to wine trade shows, both local and international.

I'm always keen to learn even more about this amazing world.

Wineries & Friends

Many winemakers have become good friends. Lots of Panzanese (that's what the locals of Panzano are called) know me because we love hanging out together. We often meet up on the Piazza in Panzano in Chianti for an aperitivo. A piazza is usually the center of a town, geographically, but it's definitely the social heart of the place.

I personally like to call the Piazza 'analog social media'.

I actually always run into someone I know on the Piazza. That's because lots of people come for an aperitivo after work to unwind with a glass of wine or Franciacorta.

Or on weekends, before heading out to dinner at a restaurant, with family, or friends. A round of wine is quickly ordered at the bar, and the Enoteca owner brings out some 'spuntini' (little tasty bites). Then, the latest news starts flowing, and of course, gossip is a must! But people also share what's going on in their daily lives and what's important to them.

This is how I get all the latest news from the vineyards, cellars, and different wineries. It's also a fantastic spot to learn more when winemakers, cellar masters, and winery staff chat amongst themselves, like about the weather and how it's affecting things.

Because the weather is super important – it's crucial for the quality of a vintage. It's really interesting to hear how the Panzano winemakers, who mostly farm their vineyards organically, chat about what's best and most important for the grapevines at any given moment.

These get-togethers on the Piazza are also always a great chance to meet new people from all over the world! That's because the wine world is super international.

People from all over the world come to Italy, often to learn how to make wine, especially in Chianti Classico. And some of them even end up staying forever!

Often, Dario Cecchini, probably Italy's most famous butcher, joins us for a little chat. And of course, we always end up talking about Chianti Classico wine!

These get-togethers usually only last about 20 or 30 minutes – quick and easy. But they're always informative for everyone involved, super fun, and always include a glass of wine with Nina in Chianti!

A Podcast Like an Aperitivo

With this podcast, I want to bring you into my Chianti Classico world. Think of it like an aperitivo: we meet up, listen, ask questions, and chat.

You can easily do that by subscribing to my podcast. Then we'll chat regularly! Sometimes it's just me, and sometimes I'm joined by my winemakers and friends.

And you can even ask me questions using the link in the show notes. You'll discover interesting and new things from Chianti, either from me or one of my guests. I'll have winemakers, cellar masters, oenologists, chefs, and people from all sorts of backgrounds joining me.

Because there's so much to share, report, and explain about Chianti Classico and Chianti. And you can join in when I chat with my friends and winemakers, or when we taste wine together.

I can introduce you to the people behind the wines and share stories from everyday life in Chianti Classico – which, let's be honest, isn't really 'everyday' at all, but rather a bit special!

I'm not just passionate about Chianti Classico and being in Chianti; I also have a blast getting others excited about it just by sharing my stories!

So, I invite you to travel with me to Chianti, to Tuscany in Italy – at least through your headphones! And I'll have a glass of wine by my side for every episode, and my guests will too.

Maybe you will too, when you tune in again! I'm really looking forward to it! Ciao, see you soon!