21/50.- Umbria, Vineyard

The other famous local product is wine. The label known as Orvieto Classico is a dry but fruity white wine, and one which, moreover, is altogether affordable. The famous Chianti red wine (in its typical straw-basket bottles) is not from Umbria, but from a region just north of it. The town of Montefiascone, at a mere few minutes’ ride from Orvieto, produces a white wine with the strange name of EST ! EST !! EST !!! This name finds its origin in the story of a wealthy prelate who, before undertaking a journey, sent one of his servants ahead to explore the taverns of the region, asking him to chalk the word EST (= « it is », for « the wine is good ») over the door of those inns where the wine was worth tasting. The man found Montefiascone wine so excellent, that it deserved a triple mention. Unfortunately, the prelate drank so much of this hallowed beverage that it led to his prompt demise.

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