CLASSICO

“That’s Classic” Jody yells looking out the window.  The Olive trees, rolling hills, and grape vines are passing by, fast.  She turns back to Cam and tells him we are speeding up.  Cam looks over at Louis and Muriel for concern and there is none so he turns and looks out the other window as the silver Mercedes van plows through the hills, hitting the 45 degree turns at 80 kilometers.  Ten minutes pass and they pull up to Castella de Verrazzano, their first winery in the Chianti region.

Castles converted into vineyards was a site to see for two couples from Pittsburgh and once the wine tastings started flowing the site turned from beauty to ecstasy.  Hopping from vineyard, to winery, to vineyard.  More Chianti Classico.  More Chianti Classico Reserve.  More Super Tuscan.  Not always in that order and not always just one tasting.  As the van moved between destinations the four spread out, It was Louis who started yelling and then convinced everyone to put up their arms (like a rollercoaster) each time they went down a hill.  More tours and more tastings.  No one even noticed the driver’s speed or slurred speech for that matter.

As the couples toured their sixth vineyard their driver, Paul would have a tasting of his own.  Sometimes a bottle of Chianti Classico Reserve, sometimes a Super Tuscan, and sometimes it was just plain ole Chianti Classico.  Not always in that order and not always one bottle.  There is more than enough Chianti to go around.  There is no such thing as AA in Italy.

The two couples get into the van and Louis, who has now consumed nearly three bottles, takes off his pants and then his shirt.  Only wearing his underwear he slides to the right and left as Paul increases his speed and continues jerking around the sharp corners.  Paul begins laughing at the increased speed and then Cam yells “I think he’s drunk!”  Louis looks out the window, seeing the Olive trees, rolling hills, and grape vines and continues to laugh, “That’s Classic!”

Another hill and the hands go up.  At the bottom of the hill there is a ninety degree turn.  In front a pile of grapes has fallen from a truck.  Paul reacts late, missing the turn and launching the Mercedes down the steep hill.  Everyone is silent as the Mercedes rolls dozens of times rolling down the hill through the Chianti grapes.  Once the vehicle comes to a rest there is only silence.  Then the sound of a car door opening and laughter.  Cam gets out and begins yelling at Paul.  Paul looks surprised, “Hey no one dies out here, look around.”  Everyone looks around, Louis, standing in his underwear, holding the side of his head laughs and snorts, “That’s Classic!”

About the Author:
David S. Grant is the author of several books including Rock Stars (Oak Tree Press), Corporate Porn (Silverthought Press), The Last Breakfast (Brown Paper Publishing), and Happy Hour (SynergEbooks). His new novel, BLOOD: The New Red will be available in the fall. David lives and works in New York City. For more information go to www.fearandloathingtravel.com and www.davidsgrant.com  follow David on Twitter: .david_s_grant.