Category: Wine and Food

How Your Scary Halloween Candy Can Pair Excellently With Wine

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

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

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

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

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

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

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
Food and Wine Horoscope 2021

Food and Wine Horoscope 2021

January 18, 2021

We very much like the food and wine horoscope that Irina Romanoff Mihailenko published on her blog Sparkling Life last week. Therefore, we decided to republish a translated version here with her permission. So, if you want to discover more about your food and wine horoscope, then this is an article for you. Remember that #hashtags are not to be underestimated for an effervescent 2021.   Aquarius The slogan this year is "in search of lost time and freedom." Perfect place of pastime and perdition? Wine cellars. Those well stocked of course. A year of great positivity and big changes,… read more
8 Tips to Host a Wine Tasting Party

8 Tips to Host a Wine Tasting Party

January 7, 2021

Wine Tasting Party Tips Wine tasting experiences such as wine tasting parties are unique and exciting for the people who love to try out new types of wines. You can arrange for such parties to improve your palate. It can also be held with any dinner party where you can open and taste different wines, experience the Italian vintages along with the local ones, and enjoy the ambiance with a great glass, or two, of wine and some lively discussion. But before planning a wine tasting party, don't forget to get your bottle of Shiraz wine for the ultimate enjoyment.… read more
Four Wine Tasting Tips Every First Timer Should Know

Four Wine Tasting Tips Every First Timer Should Know

July 9, 2020

Do you love wine but never had the confidence to go for a wine tasting? If so, there’s no need to worry as you are not the only one. Wine is one of the most preferred choices among alcoholic beverages, and a wine tasting event can be the perfect opportunity to relish all of the different kinds. But many people find wine tasting to be a daunting exercise that only experts can indulge in. If you are planning to explore the vast world of wines through a tasting, all you need is some basic knowledge and know some of the… read more