In our almanac, we share with you what is happening at Montecalvi, the ups and downs of organic farming, and our endeavours to make wine (and olive oil) that best expresses time and place. We also share our favourite recipes from our vegetable garden, and other miscellany about life in Tuscany.
The 2022 growing season was dominated by summer heat, where we recorded temperatures about 5˚C above average, and a distinct lack of precipitation, which was absent from April to August. As it happens, our established vineyards have faced the season exceptionally well, with very little heat stress, a testament, we think, to our particular terroir […]
We received Slow Wine’s “Top Wine” rating for our 2019 Chianti Classico. We cannot say how proud we are to be recognized by this guide. (Incidentally, Greve in Chianti is a “slow town.” What better place to enjoy our “slow wine”?) ***** Appreciation for our Chianti Classico Riserva 2019 Live tasting with Jamie Goode “There […]
Florence is an extraordinary city with a large number of surprises, not the least of which are the “wine holes” (or often called “gates of heaven”). The latter have undergone something of a revival in recent times, thanks in part to Stanley Tucci and his excellent “Searching for Italy” series. These miniature gates, located within […]
The tomato season is coming to an end, the taste and goodness are at their peak, and it is the right time to catch it and preserve it for the long winter ahead. Sauce is definitely the Italian staple food, and when you make it yourself it is completely different from what you can buy. […]
As reported in our latest newsletter, we are about to plant a new Sangiovese vineyard. We put a lot of thought into the clones to be planted, since, of course, these vines will be with us for the next 30, 40, 50 years. (A clone, by the way, is a single plant derived from another […]
With its beautiful glossy purple skin, the elegant eggplant has served us well this summer and is nearing the end of its season. This dish is perfect for cooler evenings. Every Italian home has its own variation of this classic dish, but this is ours in Montecalvi. Eggplant Parmigiana Serves 6 people 3 medium-sized eggplants, […]
As this newsletter lands in your inbox, we’re bottling a new/old wine that we’re excited to share with you. We invite you to cheerfully welcome all acronyms (welcome to the world of wine and welcome to Italy). The wine in question has the designation AVG or Alta Valle della Greve, is an IGT and thus […]
Laura Vegni runs our cantina and also feeds us all throughout the vendemmia Laura lives in the neighbouring hamlet of Montefioralle, which looks down on Greve in Chianti. Her family has lived there for generations and, in one way or another, they have worked on the Montecalvi property for years. She is a vital part […]
Wild asparagus is a late spring treat for foragers in Tuscany. With their milder flavor, they can be used in many dishes this time of year, from a simple omelet to a hearty weekend brunch. They are a great companion to fresh eggs, and this recipe is a perfect way to combine the two. We […]
We are pleased to announce the release of our 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva. It comes exclusively from the Montecalvi Alto vineyard, which was planted to Sangiovese in 1990, and we only made two barrels of this wine from the excellent 2019 vintage. This particular vineyard tends to give us cleaner, more compact Sangiovese grapes, and […]
