Raymond Flower brings the enchanting history of the secluded Italian region Chianti to vivid life. Using meticulous research, Flower presents the engrossing tales of the Etruscans, the Romans, the Lombards, the factions of the Guelphs and the Ghibellines and explores the rise of the communes and the struggles between the Empire and the Papacy. In the late Middle Ages, Chianti was the scene of decisive battles, and many of its medieval buildings were destroyed in the Aragonese invasions of the 15th century. Flower is himself a wine grower, and this dazzling story evokes the beauty of the vintage, which has been a part of the region since Etruscan times.