Sounds and Wine tasting. The Experience 360°
The 360-degree experience Tasting Rooms around the world are increasingly becoming opportunities for experimentation and emotional involvement. Of vital importance is role of the sound experience. Music in fact has the ability to stimulate the parts of the brain responsible for the release of dopamine, which plays a key role in generating a sense of well-being. In fact, other types of sounds, foremost among them white noise, can also promote relaxation and total immersion in the product. What is White Noise and why use it in Blind Tasting? "White noise contains all frequencies of the audible sound spectrum, equally: for… read more
How Long Does Unopened Red Wine Last? | Monte Maggio
How Long Does Red Wine Last Unopened? Some things in life, such as wine, cheese, and even people, get better with age—even if the expiry dates vary. Although an unopened bottle of wine can still be good to drink after the expiry date, it won’t last forever. This begs the question how long does red wine last unopened? You wouldn’t be the first person to wonder whether that dusty old bottle of red at the back of your cellar or wine cupboard is still OK to drink. And you certainly won’t be the last. Find out how long you can… read more
Personal Chef Elena Morlacchi Creates A Very Special Recipe for Thanksgiving
There is less than a week to Thanksgiving which is one of the most - if not the most - important holidays in the US. This year, it is predicted to be a Thanksgiving like no other after more than two years of the pandemic that restricted the possibility for families to meet up and celebrate. In Italy, where there are a lot of American ex-pats, Thanksgiving is also celebrated widely. We asked the personal chef Elena Morlacchi, who was one of the contestants in Masterchef 11 in Italy, to create a Thanksgiving recipe for us. We will then do… read more
The Harvest of 2022 Has Exceeded the Expectations Despite Climate Adversity
The harvest of 2022 has been named a vintage beyond expectations by the Italian producers themselves. The reports from Alto Adige in the north to Sicily in the south all say the same things, i.e. that the climate crisis has not affected the quality of the grapes too much. However, we are now in an era where we have to get used to extreme weather conditions and learn how to navigate them. At Fattoria di Montemaggio, the harvest is still going on and we are going to look closer at the conditions and results so far. We will also make… read more
How Yeast Is Essential For The End-Result of Wine
Wild or cultured yeast. What is the deal with the type of yeast used for the fermentation of grapes? Is wild fermentation just a risky business or is the use of cultured yeast too standardized? Is there a difference in the end result? Some say there is not while others claim that wild yeast is the only way. Today, the discussion is more alive than ever with the concepts of organic, biodynamic, regenerative viticulture, low-intervention winemaking, and what else, not to use the over-hyped word “natural”. Let us take a closer look at yeast strains and their importance for winemaking.… read more
How the Return of Flavescenza Dorata Threatens the Vineyards in Tuscany
Flavescenza dorata is wreaking havoc in many vineyards in Italy again. Even though climate change is not the only reason behind the return of this disease, the change in climate is affecting us all more and more leading to tropical-like weather with severe heat waves, drought followed by torrential rains, vine diseases, and much more. The “rules of winemaking” are changing, vineyards are being planted at high altitudes and in northern countries, and the European Union now allows the use of hybrid grapes to come to terms with climate change. (See the article Meet Four Women at the Forefront of… read more
Chianti vs Chianti Classico DOCG: Everything you need to know in a nutshell
How many times at our favorite Wine Shop have we paused to read labels looking for the perfect Sangiovese straight from our beloved Tuscany and utter confusion has taken over us? Sangiovese is the main grape of Chianti and its subregions. Where everything started Native to central Italy (specifically the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines), this red grape combines high acidity with medium tannins, as well as balanced flavors and aromas of red cherries, earthy notes and blood. It is grown in areas with a native soil mainly called galestro (similar to stony marl and schist), where the climate offers cool nights… read more
Radda nel bicchiere - A True Folk Wine Festival in Radda
This spring has been a sort of rebirth of life in the world in general, and in the wine world in particular. After two years of long periods of isolation due to the pandemic, the last few months have shown an eagerness to recuperate time lost as quickly as possible. In Italy, it started with the Chianti Classico Collection at the end of March (see further our article Chianti Classico Collection 2022 Gave Positive Vibes to the Wine World) and then continued then with Vinitaly, Anteprima Chiaretto, Anteprima Sagrantino, Cantine Aperte and Radda nel bicchiere, and many other events. There… read more
Ilaia: Our conception of Pugnitello. Not just Chianti Classico
Tradition and Revolution in a few words rediscovering our Art Those of you who have known Montemaggio for a long time know very well how interested we are in the research and recovery of what are the traditions of the land of Chianti Classico, and how being faithful to a purely traditionalist approach (at least as far as our Chianti Classico wines are concerned) is of vital importance. This desire to always remain poised between tradition and revolution obviously led us to ask ourselves what we could do to differentiate ourselves by recovering an important slice of the past. A… read more
Chianti Classico Collection 2022 Gave Positive Vibes to the Wine World
The 29th Edition of the Chianti Classico Collection just closed its doors the other week. The Chianti Classico Collection (#CCC22) is the yearly trade event that is organized to taste a preview of the wine vintages that have or will be released for the current year. It is two days of tastings and masterclasses to better get to know the area, the wines, and the producers of Chianti Classico. What was so special about Chianti Classico Collection 2022? Let’s find out more. Chianti Classico Collection 2022 - A Reset After the Pandemic The Chianti Classico Collection 2022 was a breath… read more