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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

The weather conditions in Italy, as well as worldwide, have been quite challenging in 2023. There have been instances of rain, floods, hailstorms, heatwaves, wildfires, and more. All of these have had adverse effects on this year's vegetative cycle, leading to various diseases and a loss of production. This year's harvest has been a sad one for some, while quite acceptable for others. It's worth noting that there are differences between the northern and southern parts of Italy in terms of the harvest. According to the Observatory of Assoenologi, Ismea, and Unione Italiana Vini, the overall loss of quantity compared… read more

Ferragosto, the equivalent of midsummer in Italy, is just around the corner. On the 15th of August, everything stops in Italy as they celebrate the major summer holiday that coincides with the Catholic celebration of the Assumption of Mary. However, what’s the story behind Ferragosto? How did it start? Let’s find out… The Origin of Ferragosto Ferragosto comes from the Latin word Feriae Augusti which means the "resting day" of Augustus. It was a holiday in the Roman era instituted by Augustus, known as the first Roman emperor from 27 BC until his death in AD 14, that was connected… read more

The wine world entered the phase of digital transformation more fully during the pandemic, and it has also started to dip its toes into the metaverse, NFTs, cryptocurrencies, ad much more. Many considered wine one of the last sectors that had not fully embraced digitalization, but during the last few years, things have started to change. A lot in the world has indeed changed with the pandemic, including the way we connect, conduct work, transport goods, our attitude to sustainability, and more. The younger generation, Gen Z, has a different world view and these kids have grown up as a… read more

Introduction: In the heart of Tuscany's celebrated Chianti Classico region lies a hidden gem that wine enthusiasts must not overlook: Malvasia Nera. While Chianti Classico is primarily known for its renowned Sangiovese wines, the cultivation of Malvasia Nera adds a distinctive touch to the region's viticultural landscape. In this article, we delve into the captivating world of Malvasia Nera, its characteristics, and why it deserves your attention. A Brief History: Malvasia Nera, a red grape variety, has a long and illustrious history in Italy. It is believed to have originated in the Mediterranean, where it was first introduced by the… read more

Vinitaly this year was back to its old state of glory after three years of no or limited organization. This year, Vinitaly focused very much on the incoming of international buyers to better favor the business side of the trade show. This is surely very positive for all types of wineries, especially smaller wineries such as Fattoria di Montemaggio. Furthermore, Fattoria di Montemaggio organized a mini-tasting called Women in Wine at their stand with wines from three other female producers other than Fattoria di Montemaggio. The idea was to showcase women in wine and two flagship Italian wine regions and… read more

Have you ever wondered about the diseases or alterations in wine? And most importantly, what are the differences? Let us try in the next few lines to clarify and better understand this intricate world. Get comfortable, pour yourself a nice glass of red wine and ... let's get started. "Wine Alterations They are manifested by the change in the color or clarity of the wine, in French referred to as "casses" (a French term meaning "ruptures" or an alteration in the appearance of a wine consisting of the loss of homogeneity, color and formation of turbidity. Other alterations are corky… read more

Should wine be gathered in the same category as tobacco? Well, that is the main point on the agenda lately after Ireland’s plan to put serious health warnings on bottles of spirits, beer, as well as wine. This has been met with anger and rage from the three main countries in the EU producing wine followed by several other supporting member states. These member states, especially Italy, France, and Spain, are arguing that wine is not only a consumer product but part of their Mediterranean history and culture. However, the EU commission did not object to Ireland’s proposal last year… read more

Professional figures in the wine industry Have you ever wondered about the professional figures in the world and the differences between them? Women and men who work every day in the service of their passion, we tell below about their tasks and duties. Agronomist "The technical agronomist of vineyard plant evaluation and design. This is the figure who, in addition to coordinating the evaluation and design phases of vineyard plantings, is responsible for its management with particular reference to the pre-planting phase, which determines and conditions the entire production process by preparing the "roots." The management of this initial phase… read more

This year was the 30th edition of the Chianti Classico Collection which saw the participation of 206 Chianti Classico producers. There were 750 Chianti Classico wine labels to taste of which 34 were tank samples of the 2022 vintage, 161 were Chianti Classico Riserva, and 136 were Chianti Classico Gran Selezione. The rest were Chianti Classico Annata. The attendance of national and international wine professionals was back to the levels of pre-pandemic. Fattoria di Montemaggio was present with the vintages Chianti Classico Annata 2019, Chianti Classico Riserva 2015, and Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2015. This was the second year that… read more