Category: Wine and Food
The Perfect Pour
November 6, 2024
Mastering Wine Service Temperatures for Maximum Flavor When it comes to serving wine, the right temperature can elevate a good bottle to a great one. You might have heard phrases like "room temperature for reds" or "chilled for whites," but there's much more nuance involved to make sure each wine shines. Serving wine at the correct temperature brings out its best flavors, aromas, and textures. In this guide, we’ll explore the ideal serving temperatures for different types of wine, why temperature matters, and practical tips for hitting that perfect chill. Why Does Wine Temperature Matter? Wine is a complex… read more
Chianti Terroir
October 18, 2024
Terroir in Chianti: How Sangiovese Interacts with the Land Chianti, a historic and revered wine region in Tuscany, Italy, has long been synonymous with the Sangiovese grape. The unique characteristics of Chianti wines are deeply tied to the region's terroir—a term used to describe the combined influence of the soil, climate, and geography on the taste of a wine. In the case of Chianti, the terroir plays a pivotal role in shaping the expression of Sangiovese, the region’s flagship grape. But what exactly is terroir, and how does it affect Sangiovese in Chianti? This article explores the intricate relationship between… read more
Raise Your Glasses! The Chianti Classico Consortium Celebrates Its First 100 Years Alongside the City of Florence!
May 14, 2024
One hundred years of passion, dedication, and tradition: this is what the Chianti Classico Consortium celebrates, a cornerstone in the Italian and international wine world. Since its establishment in 1924 in Radda in Chianti, this consortium has represented the oenological excellence of the Tuscan territory, upholding a centuries-old tradition with innovative spirit and tireless passion. And what better way to celebrate this significant milestone than with a series of events that involved the entire city of Florence, the beating heart of Tuscany and the cradle of Chianti Classico? The weekend leading up to the fateful 14th of May was a… read more
How Your Scary Halloween Candy Can Pair Excellently With Wine
October 31, 2023
It is that time of year again when people dress up in scary costumes to spook each other at parties or while going trick-and-treating with the kids. It is Halloween. But how did Halloween start? What does Halloween mean? Who invented the trick-and-treating? Let us take a closer look at the history of Halloween. The History of Halloween If we start with the name Halloween, the word Hallow comes from the Middle and Old English word for holy. Apparently, All Saints’ Day was called All Hallows’ Day in ancient times while the day before was All Hallows’ Eve. With time,… read more
Personal Chef Elena Morlacchi Creates A Very Special Recipe for Thanksgiving
November 18, 2022
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
Chianti vs Chianti Classico DOCG: Everything you need to know in a nutshell
July 8, 2022
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
How Old Traditions Matter at Christmas in Tuscany
December 24, 2021
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
How Bees Can Contribute to Amazing Biodiversity in the Vineyard
August 3, 2021
There is a buzz in the vineyard figuratively as well as literally at Fattoria di Montemaggio. Well, not in the vineyard only but all over the estate. We have recently become beekeepers by setting up a beehive. This is not only making wonders for biodiversity and the ecosystem but we also hope to soon be able to produce honey to share with you all. But how and why are bees so important for the ecosystem at large? Let us dig a bit deeper into the fascinating world of bees. What is the Role of Bees? The keeping of honeybees promotes… read more
Easter Traditions in Italy from North to South
March 24, 2021
Easter 2021 is just around the corner and we are all getting ready for this event. Especially in Italy Easter is something that we all look forward to. Something that is well rooted in our culture. A time of gathering, a time of sharing and of course a time to spend with your family and loved ones. The Bel Paese, our beloved Italy, is obviously rich of curious Easter traditions. Each region has its own customs and beliefs. The Italian culture is the result of the mixture of the customs of all populations that comes… read more
Food and Wine pairing from the Point of View of an Authentic Tuscan Winery
January 20, 2021
Authentic Tuscan Food & Wine Pairing Perspective Food and wine pairing is surely one of the most interesting subjects for consumers. So here it is for you: Food and Wine pairing from the Point of View of an Authentic Tuscan Winery. We want to specify that this article mainly reflects our point of view, well, because after all, food and wine matching is something extremely personal. An objective parameter, and not something subjective. Understanding how to match a food to a specific wine is, moreover, fundamental in order not to risk to ruin one or the other. What to look… read more