The 2022 growing season was dominated by the summer heat, where we experienced temperatures about 5˚C above average, and the distinct lack of rainfall, with none to speak of from April to August. As it happens, our established vineyards coped exceptionally well, with very little heat stress, a testament, we think, to our particular terroir and the health (and breadth…
We were awarded a ‘Top Wine’ rating Slow Wine for our Chianti Classico 2019. We cannot tell how proud we are to be recognised by this guide. (By the way, Greve in Chianti is a ‘slow city’. What better place to enjoy our ‘slow wine’?) Appreciation for our Chianti Classico Riserva 2019 Tasting Live with Jamie Goode “There’s the most…
With their glorious glossy violet skins, the elegant aubergine has served us well this summer and is just nearing the end of its season. This dish is perfect as the cooler evenings set in. Each Italian home has its own variation of this classic dish but this is ours at Montecalvi. Melanzane alla Parmigiana Serves 6 3 medium sized aubergines,…
We wanted to let you know that we have been lucky enough to receive a number of very good reviews for our wines recently. Our VV 2015 was awarded 94 points by the prestigious Veronelli wine guide and we also caught the attention of Antonio Galloni (Vinous) and Dr Jamie Goode (Wine Anorak). Montecalvi Chianti Classico 2018 received 93 points…
One of the things we enjoy most at Montecalvi is walking into the cellar to taste from the barrels. We do this regularly to monitor the evolution and quality of the wines. There is no such thing as a fixed recipe for our wines. Every vintage is different and each time we put a blend together there are different considerations.…
Defining the exact moment to harvest is both an art and a science. We keep a close eye on the grapes from veraison (which is the beginning of the ripening process) onwards and, as harvest approaches, we wander through the vineyard sampling the grapes. We are looking for a number of things, but principally sugars, acids and phenolics. First, we…
As the tomato season comes to a close, the flavour and goodness are at their most intense and this is the moment to capture that and preserve it for the long winter ahead. Sugo is, of course, an Italian staple and when you make it yourself it is a world apart from the shop-bought equivalent. The recipe is extremely straight-forward,…
Montecalvi is an organic estate. The key principles of organic farming are rather familiar to us all as we seek to eliminate artificial chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides from our diet and our surrounding environment. It now really matters to many of us that the wine we choose to drink is organic. But it is not just…
