The Viognier grape is, these days, more often than not associated with France (think Condrieu and Languedoc) but it is in fact a grape of ancient origin (probably) from the Dalmatian coast and introduced elsewhere by the Romans. It is, so it is said, closely related to the Piedmont varieties, Freisa and Nebbiolo. It was almost extinct […]
Ancient grains form a very important part of the Tuscan diet. The pasta here is rarely made from highly refined modern flour, and ancient grains such as farro, orzo, kamut and polenta (coarsely ground cornmeal) are seen frequently in home cooking. These are pillars of the Mediterranean diet and when combined with seasonal vegetables, couldn’t […]
Over the centuries, wine has inspired artists and poets alike with the first evidence in pictorial representations (bas-relief) of ancient Egyptian art, dating back to the fourth millennium BC. Valued for its sacral, curative and funereal value (evident in the finding of grape seeds in Egyptian tombs), wine has been depicted during feasts and ceremonies […]
A great Super Tuscan is, without question, an unofficial star of the Italian wine scene and yet there it is no single definition of the term ‘Super Tuscan’ — largely because these wines are not defined by either grape variety or specific origin. What we can say is that Super Tuscans are red wines made […]
Many food historians believe that focaccia was born with the Etruscans in North Central Italy in the days before the Roman Empire, although we can also see its roots traced through unleavened flatbread throughout the Mediterranean basin. The name, however, derives from the Roman ‘panis focacius’, a bread cooked over the ashes of a fireplace.There […]
Enoteca Baldi is one of our favourite restaurants in the world and it just happens to be a few minutes away from Montecalvi. 1. Tell us a little bit about Enoteca Baldi. Who are the Baldi? When did it start? Enoteca Baldi is a family-run business. Mimmo Baldi is the foundation of it and its […]
At Montecalvi, we have a little over four hectares under vine, spread across five different vineyards. Le Terrazze is our oldest and finest vineyard, planted on dry stone-wall terraces in 1932, making it one of the oldest vineyards in Tuscany. Then we have the Montecalvi vineyard (in three parcels) which was first planted to Sangiovese […]
It is that time of the year when Tuscany is in full bloom and visiting some of its gardens can take you on an historical, cultural and botanical journey. We’ve shortlisted some of our favourites for you. The Boboli Gardens, Florence https://www.uffizi.it/en/boboli-gardenThis majestic oasis nestled behind the Pitti Palace is one of the most glorious […]
The 11 UGAs include: Greve, Radda, Lamole, Panzano, Gaiole, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Vagliagli, Castellina, San Donato in Poggio, San Casciano, and Montefioralle. In each location, soil composition, elevation and exposure can give a very distinctive stylistic difference and this site-specific delineation is aimed to help navigate the larger melting pot of Chianti Classico. In the words […]
It cannot be said that life in Tuscany is always straightforward. But when it is, it is ‘the ultimate form of sophistication’ (so said Leonardo da Vinci). This bread is exactly that. It is tied inextricably to the harvest and is traditionally made using the Canaiolo grape; if you cannot put your hands on Canaiolo […]
