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Spring is here, and the tourism season has started. Tuscany does not really have much of a down time when it comes to visitors, but the winter months are generally a bit calmer. When Easter arrives, the tourists from Italy, as well as abroad, start populating Tuscany and its attractions. Tourism in Tuscany Tourism is important for Tuscany and Italy. Toscana Promozione Turismo stated last autumn that the returns from tourism increased 4.1% in Tuscany during the summer of 2017. In this context, wine tours are becoming more and more an essential part of tourism activities. Many wineries are focusing… read more

The Chianti Classico Collection (#CCC) event is always an important moment of the year. This year it was the 25th edition of the Anteprima where the Chianti Classico producers are showcasing the new vintages being released to the market. The Chianti Classico Collection is a trade show organized every year at Stazione Leopolda in Florence, in the heart of Tuscany, to present the new vintages for the year. This is a perfect opportunity to taste the best of Chianti Classico Annata, Chianti Classico Riserva, and Gran Selezione wines from the different member producers. Let us look closer at this year’s Chianti… read more

A Tribute to our Wine Influencers, Writers & Guests Soon it’s time to feast on Christmas food, open presents, rock around the Christmas tree, and perhaps share wine memories. And sip on lots of good wine, right? However, there are still some days before we enter the true holiday mode. We wanted to take the opportunity, to sum up, the last year a bit, the people we met and who visited Fattoria di Montemaggio. To be able to thank a set of wine writers and wine influencers for their visits, kindness, and generosity in writing about Montemaggio, we wanted to… read more

Ever found yourself in the situation where you have no idea what presents to gift to your friends? Then maybe it is time for some DIY! If you are a wine-enthusiasts like us here at Montemaggio, many of the following materials should not be lacking in your house. Let's take a look at some creative ideas for Christmas presents to your wine-loving friends Customize your own wine label Sometimes we try to go great lengths to find an original gift. Truth is, you may already know what is your best friend's favorite wine... so why not add a personal touch… read more

This autumn Valeria and Ilaria have been busy traveling around to introduce the Montemaggio wines outside the borders of Italy. In October, Valeria went to attend two different wine dinners in Denmark and in November, Ilaria went to Russia. Let’s see what went on at the different events… Fattoria di Montemaggio Goes to Denmark In mid-October, Valeria went to the country of Danish Dynamite. This is the nickname the Danish football team got in 1984 when they qualified for an international tournament, UEFA EURO 1984, for the first time in 20 years. Now, we are not going to focus on soccer… read more

The Thanksgiving Celebration Thanksgiving traditionally marked the end of the Harvest season, after reaping the long awaited yield of long labor in the fields, where families would gather over a meal together and celebrate everything there is to be thankful for. The centerpiece and star of any Thanksgiving meal, the revered turkey, is often served together with mouth-watering sides like buttery mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing's made of all types of ingredients, corn bread, peas and pumpkin or apple pie at the end of the meal. As Italians, we are often mesmerized by the variety of food and… read more

The end of September traditionally marks the beginning of the harvesting season for wine grapes. Harvesting is undoubtedly one of the most important moments of the year for winemakers, when the best and healthiest grapes are chosen and turned into juice to kickstart the wine-production process. Choosing the right moment to start harvesting grapes is a matter of both experience and scientific knowledge: in the vineyards the plucks are ripening, concentration of sugar in the grapes slowly reaching the right balance. At Montemaggio there is a buzz in the air! This is a key period of the year for both… read more

Today we want to share with you some suggestions on how to enjoy our wines during the hottest days of the season. With summer temperatures reaching their peak the most critical factor a wine lover should pay attention to is the serving temperature of wine. The best way to keep wine at the right service temperature is to equip your cellar with a small wine-cabinet that includes a cooling/refrigerating system. The best models allow you to store red and white wines at different temperatures in different sections of the same cabinet. For simplicity’s sake, you should remember the following guidelines:… read more

The Ferragosto weekend has passed, it is still holiday time here in Italy but people are slowly getting back to work and the daily whereabouts. As a bit of a throwback, we wanted to rewind back to the beginning of the summer and the event “Vignaioli di Radda” (Winemakers of Radda). This event took place on May 26, a sunny Friday, in the House of Chianti Classico in Radda. It was organized by the association of the winemakers themselves and was a sort of pilot event. The aim was to set the tone for a yearly event in order to… read more

Wine-Based Drinks for Summer Fun Summer is the best season to enjoy cool and refreshing drinks, but this does not necessarily mean giving up on wine, be it white or red! Read below to find a few suggestions of wine-based cocktails worth trying this summer! 1. Spritz Veneziano This refreshing mix of sparkling wine served with ice, bitter and some soda water is with no doubt one of the most popular pre-dinner drinks in northern Italy. Its popularity increased so much over the past decade that “Spritz Veneziano” is now featured in the IBA official cocktail list: the original recipe… read more