Mazzei has been in wine production since the period of Podesta di Firenze was living there, 1435 to be precise, and the Castello di Fonterutoli in Castellina di Chianti is still in the hands of the same family with relatively new initiatives in the Maremma Toscana and Noto in Sicily.

Suitably humbled we asked for half a glass of Chianti Classico Fonterutoli DOCG 2011 and just admired the setting.

By this time the sun was starting to set and it was the perfect moment to head across Ponte Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti and one of the other hubs for WineTown.

If you thought the High Magistrate of Florence was important wait until you see the old residence of the Medici Grand Duke.

The setting was an ideal choice for the project 'Sangiovese Purosangue' which groups the finest producers of Sangiovese in Tuscany under the banner of the EnoClub Siena, 33 to be precise.

As we had got a taste for organic wines we sought out a small producer who might be representative.

After a quick, nonchalent walk past all 33 we approached L'Erta di Radda based in Radda in Chianti.

The estate was founded in 2006 by Diego Finocchi in 5 hectares of vineyard just a few meters from the historical center of Radda in Chianti.

In 2009 Diego decided to embrace the philosophy of orgnaic farming and the Chianti Classico L'Erta di Radda DOCG 2010 we tried was from one of just 4000 bottles produced, although both a white and vino santo make up another 2000 bottles.

Diego is fully involved, from the pruning of the vines to the marketing of his products. The name of his wines is taken from the steep inclines (Erta) of his vineyards.

Of the 32 remaining wine producers, we fancied another white, so asked for a taste of Lyncurio IGT 2012 by Castello di Potentino located in the Orcia Valley near Seggiano.

We had visited the castle on a private visit a few years ago, so it only seemed right.

You may be asking if there is a secret to trying all this wine (and beer). Well, it's called Street Food, 2 stalls set up by WineTown to keep your stomach filled.

One was located opposite the Loggia del Grano and the other in front of Palazzo Pitti. Like the Sirens calling Ulysses, you are drawn in.

The stall opposite Palazzo Pitti was, in fact, made up of four different gastronomic proposals.

We had a look at the local pizza and Iberic ham on the bone, but settled for the focaccia from the Consorzio of Recco (above) described as a simple and healthy product with few ingredients far from any kind of sophistication.

Heading back across the River Arno, the effects of the wine had started to say 'go to bed', so another Florence Palazzo was out of the question but, as if by magic, the second Street Food stall appeared in our sights.

A much simpler choice here from two of Florence's food kings; Simone Fracassi 'Re della Chianina' and Luca Cai, who we last met at Restaurant Vivendo in Rome when he made a classic Tuscan ribollita for a one-off event. We plumped for the Chianina IGP hamburger (above) by Fracassi.

SATURDAY 18 MAY

Due to the set up of WineTown we decided not to retrace our steps the following day and cut out a couple of Palazzi.

The first was Palazzo Capponi delle Rovinate along the Arno towards Palazzo Pitti and described in the WineTown brochure as 'built in the first decade of the 15th century by Niccolo da Uzzano, head of the party of the Ottimati and executor of the will of the antipope John XXII'. What an invitation!

The second was, unfortunately, the Sala d'Arme of Palazzo Vecchio itself.

We decided it would give us the perfect excuse to go back next year just to spend 2 days drinking through the 4 big wine consortiums of Tuscany based there for WineTown: Rufina, Chianti Colli Senesi, Chianti Colli Fiorentini and Vino Chianti.

Instead, we headed straight to one location we really wanted to see, Palazzo Antinori located in the square of the same name.

It is one of the most important Renaissance buildings in Florence and was built between 1461 and 1469. In 1506 it became the residence and office of Niccolo Antinori.

After a further 26 generations, an Antinori still owns the famous vineyards. Even more impressive when you think an Antinori was making wines even before the construction of the Palazzo, by almost a century.

5 tastings were proposed and we had two: Achelo Fattoria la Braccesca DOC 2010 (100% Syrah) and Montenisa Brut Tenuta Montenesa DOC made of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco and a small percentage of Pinot Nero.

Both were enjoyed while watching a video of Antinori's latest initiative; the stunning Wine Cellars in Chianti Classico near San Casciano Val di Pesa.

The final wine of our WineTown 2013 experience was Il Borro IGT 2009 made by the estate owned by Ferrucio Ferragamo and located in S.Giustina Valdarno, province of Arezzo.

We enjoyed it in Palazzo Davanzati, a building which has undergone many transformations, but was built in the middle 1300's by wealthy merchants of the art of Calimala; the guild of the cloth finishers and merchants in foreign cloths.

A suitable conclusion to a fantastic 2 days in Florence.