How Dry January Becomes Wet In A Pandemic
Dry January is a way to stay off the alcohol for a month after the holiday season with a lot of overindulgences. In January, we need to lose some weight, get healthy, and try to get back on track. However, where does Dry January come from? What does it mean more specifically? Last but not least, is Dry January something we even consider when being in the midst of a pandemic? Let us find out more. What is Dry January? Dry January was started in 2012 by the British charity Alcohol Change UK as a way to help people moderate… read more
The Epiphany, The Italian Approach, the food and of course The Wine
Epiphany is also commonly referred to in Italy as the Festa della Befana. Celebrated on 6 January, it is probably one of the most popular festivals for children. Obviously, every country in the world has its own way of celebrating it, but let's try to understand what are the traditions that distinguish our beautiful Italy. Where does Epiphany come from? This feast is the commemoration of the day (the twelfth since Christmas) when the Magician Kings arrived at the stable where Jesus Christ was born, bringing with them gold, frankincense and myrrh. Italian children are used to putting in empty… read more
How Old Traditions Matter at Christmas in Tuscany
We are just but a day from Christmas in Tuscany and all over the world and last-minute shopping and preparations are at their height. Even though the Omicron is running fast, we probably all have the same pre-holiday stress all over the world but the Christmas traditions vary a bit from country to country and region to region. In Tuscany, the Christmas traditions center around food, of course, but also some other ancient traditions we will take a closer look at. We have also asked Ilaria and Francesco here at Fattoria di Montemaggio about their Christmas traditions in Chianti. Christmas… read more
The Perfect bottle for the Perfect Wine
How many times we asked ourselves what are the different sizes and types of bottles? In this blog post we want to try to make things clearer, get comfortable (maybe with a good glass of wine) and let's discover together something more about this subject. Let's start at The most common sizes of bottles sold in stores are the ones between 0.25 and 1.5 liters (0.25 and 1.5 gallons), however there are also bigger ones, they are simply rarer to find. However it may happen to find bottles having a peculiar and remarkable size, such as the ones called Impériale,… read more
Something More About Chianti Classico
Let's face it, Tuscany and in particular Chianti Classico are synonymous of good wine. The great protagonist of Tuscan wines is probably since ever Sangiovese. In its many declinations it gives us structure as well as elegance, crispness and pleasantness. Sangiovese- The Prince of Chianti Classico Grapes However we must admit Sangiovese is not the only ingredient of our Tuscany, in terms of history it is also important to remember other three great grapes that made history, in particular in Chianti Classico. Today we are going to talk about Ciliegiolo, Canaiolo and Colorino. Make yourselves comfortable, pour yourselves a nice… read more
Something more about the Wine Aromas
If you are reading this Blog Post most probably you are a wine lover, and as a wine lover more than once you would have asked yourself how you perceive certain smells in a specific wine. You surely asked yourself where Wine's Aromas come from. What mechanism is behind them? At the end of the day those unique flavors we can perceive in a wine are simply molecules. They enter the nose, hit olfactory receptors and generate a signal which is sent to our brain. So simple and yet so complex. Tiny molecules lighter than air float towards our olfactory… read more
How Beautiful Grapes Bring Happiness To Our Winery
The harvest of 2021 bore signs of climatic turbulences in Europe during the past year but at Fattoria di Montemaggio the quality of the grapes brought happiness. Regarding the challenges this year, it went from the frost in April that struck mainly France, but also parts of Italy and Spain and continued to the flooding in Germany, and a very warm and dry summer overall. It has been a difficult year for vinegrowers all over Europe. How did it affect the harvest generally? Why is Fattoria di Montemaggio so happy about this vintage? Let us find out below. The Consequences… read more
Top Wine Vintages in Chianti Classico in Tuscany
Wine is all about vintages, that is that every vintage differs from the next and gives rise to unique wines. When we say that every vintage is different, we more specifically refer to the weather conditions during the vines' vegetative year. This influences a wine’s aromas, flavors, and quality which is referred to as “vintage variation”. The weather also has a considerable impact on the harvest and the yield. There are some vintages that turn out much better than others and result in compelling and sensational wines. We will look into some vintages that Ilaria, our Estate Manager, considers to… read more
Exploring Chianti
o Most people are familiar with the Chianti region in Italy, but did you know that there are also wineries in Tuscany? Well, a tour of the Chianti wine region in Tuscany is the perfect way to get a taste of all this beautiful place has to offer. For those feeling adventurous, this blog post will offer some information about Chianti wine, what you should understand before touring wine tasting Chianti, and some best destinations for experiencing a Chianti Wine Tour. How to plan your Chianti wine destination trip Decide your destination First and foremost, you need to… read more
Does Wine Contain Gluten?
Gluten is a severe problem for many who are allergic, intolerant or struggle with celiac disease. But can wine contain gluten? Is wine gluten-free? Or, does wine pose a risk for people who suffer from gluten intolerance? In the recent article The Truth About Gluten-Free Wine in The Drop, the online magazine of Pix Wine, Felicity Carter delves deeper into the issue of whether gluten in wine exists and whether it can be a problem. This was as a way to bring clarity to what it means when wine producers declare their wines as “gluten-free”. What is Gluten? The Celiac… read more