Le Palaie winery, Peccioli, Tuscany

Le Palaie winery, Peccioli, Tuscany

“The Wine is on the table” , my second wine tasting at “Le Palaie Winery”, Peccioli 

The “Wine is on the Table”  is the name of  my second wine tasting event at “Le Palaie Winery ”  Peccioli. It was a big  success, which was held on the 10th March 2018 . As always,  all started with a few phone calls and emails with the great stuff of the winery to discuss which wines and the types of food to serve ,  and to double-check my  guest list.

Visiting “Le Palaie Winery ”  Peccioli  is  your way to discover the colours and flavours of Tuscany ,  exploring its stunning  vineyards and rolling hills.

“Le Palaie Winery”, the beauty of Tuscany in a glass

Visiting “Le Palaie Winery is  your way to discover the colours and flavours of Tuscany ,  exploring its stunning  vineyards and rolling hills. It’s also the ideal starting point to enjoy famous and important medieval cities of Tuscany such as:

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The history of the “Le Palaie Winery”

In 1996 Nino Capon   founded    “Le Palaie Winery ”   in Peccioli  . This great entrepreneur loved  the the Valdera area , becasue is considered an emerging wine region in the Tuscan province of Pisa. So he decided to open the farm and then to plant the vines in an area strongly devoted to wine production.

A winery and a farm house among the Tuscan hills

In the first floor “Le Palaie Winery ”    is provided with a modern vat cellar and an underground barrique cellar for the aging of wines where. Here stunning sculptures transform the room in a real art gallery.

In the second floor there is a  big and terrific terrace with a magic view to the Tuscan landscape. It’s also a farm house with 7 apartments and 3 independent houses of various sizes. All of them are modern and equipped with  all facilities and a swimming pool too.

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5 Top wines

There were many people who came to enjoy the top 5 wines of the  “Le Palaie Winery” which were paired with local products: cheeses (one mild, one medium, one strong), fruits, nuts, crackers and chocolates.

Moreover, guests had fun with a wine quiz to determine their  wine knowledge.  Then a very rare thing happened to me. Just before introducing myself to the guests, I started to get nervous! My normal, confident self decided to go on break just when I needed !

Adrian Setright and Stefano Matteucci starring!

Then I  I took a deep breath and  I found my voice and began the wine tasting. Developing my own rhythm, all of my nerves quickly melted away! Of course, we laughed a lot, learned a lot about wine. We all had fun thanks to two artists , who helped me with all the wine event: 

5 Top labels

Here the best 5 labels of “Le Palaie Winery“: 

1.“Rosato”: It’s a rosé made from Merlot and Sangiovese grapes , which grow on hills in loose to medium terroir that leads to sandy soil. A hint of copper to the eye, fruity florals to the nose plus high acidity leads to intense flavours;

2.“Viognier”: It’s a white wine , which is made from Viognier (100%) . This grape originally comes  from the Rhone Valley, France. It’s characterized by floral notes to the nose ( honeysuckle and lavender) along with peaches and suggestions of smoke. Detect hints of white peaches, citrus and dried apricots with a finish of butterscotch and oak;

3. “Gatta Ci Cova”: It’s a red wine made from  Sangiovese (50%), and Merlot (50 %) . This wine has  an intense ruby colour and a typical fruity perfume of a fresh young wine with yummy hints of wild berries;

4. “Sagrestano”: It’s a red wine made from Sangiovese (50%) and  Alicante (50%). Its  scent is  of spices, black pepper , which are mainly present also on the palate;

5. “Bulizio”: It’s a red wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon ( 40 %) , Merlot (40%),  Petit Verdot (20 %) . Its colour is deep ruby, and  the nose detects ripe fruit that leads to spicy notes. Its tannins are strong;

“Le Palaie Winery”, amazing wine tasting in Peccioli, Tuscany

Without any doubt, “Wine is on the table”  was my second best wine tasting experience at the “Le Palaie winery ”   .  Hosting a wine tasting event was a great way to do something fun, classy, and different with my  friends and other guests .

Special thanks! 

As a Sommelier  I never stop learning, growing and building up my experience that goes on with the AIS of Lucca” ( “Italian Sommelier Association”) .

Special thanks to:

All in all, my second wine  tasting was everything I could have hoped for, with such a wonderful host and crowd, it  reconfirmed my decision to be an independent wine consultant!

 

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“I Pisani più Schietti 2017”

“I Pisani più Schietti 2017”

“I Pisani più Schietti 2017”, the wine event of Pisa

“I  Pisani  più Schietti 2017” is a great wine exhibition , which  was held on the 25th November 2017  . It took place  in the   “Il Giardino del Colombre”, which is a nice restaurant inside an old convent called  ” I Cappuccini in San Giusto” .

“I  Pisani  più Schietti 2017”  (XVIII edition) was organized by the “F.I.S.A.R  of Pisa” (“Confederation of Wine Tasting Experts, Hotels and Restaurants”). It’s a wine tasting of the best wines of the Hills of Pisa” .

At the “I  Pisani  più Schietti 2017”   there were local wineries of Pisa and its Province promoting the vast heritage of autochthonous grapes such as:

“I Pisani più Schietti 2017”, the wine beyond Bogheri!

The province of Pisa extends over an area characterized by plains and hills that reach an elevation of 200 metres above sea-leve. The  wines of Pisa and its Province’s   belong to a specific area and are associated with a road that leads gently along green hills in a charming landscape.

There are many  family-run Wine Farms : they have changed into businesses and  promote their “D.O.C. Wines” (“Registered Designation of Origin“) and “D.O.C.G. Wines” (“Registered and Guaranteed Designation of Origin”)  in Italy and abroad.

The wine lands between Pisa and Livorno

Between the provinces of Pisa and Livorno exist zones highly suited to winemaking, with the mother of Tuscan coastal wines, Bolgheri, at the centre, such as :

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“I Pisani più Schietti 2017”. And the winner is!

“I  Pisani più Schietti 2017” included a competition for the best wines of Pisa and   its  Province. A special commission made up of  some members of the “Chamber of Commerce of  Pisa”  awarded the following wineries :

The audience was welcomed in a friendly atmosphere inside the beautiful location of ” I Cappuccini in San Giusto” , the old convent surrounded by a big garden in Pisa  .

Despite the pouring rain on , each guest tasted all the wines guided by the advices of the wine tasting experts. They explained the story of “I Pisani più Schietti 2017” , and  they were very proud of the quality of their wines .

Moreover, there was the possibility to order something to eat something local as well. It was a great moment to realize what Pisa and its Province can offer in terms of food and wine  excellencies. Pisa and Its Province are very proud of its wine production in a region like Tuscany with wineries of National and International fame scattered throughout the country!

“Il Sagrestano, Le Palaie winery”, my best red wine at “I Pisani più Schietti 2017”

It was time to go home and while  looking out from the window to check out the awful weather conditions.  To me, the  best wine of the wine event was :

“Cuore Perduto , Ricciardi Toscanelli Estate” , a good wine to pair with “carbonara”

What a better time to prepare a “Carbonara” than that cold  Saturday evening  at the end of the “I Pisani  più Schietti 2017” !

I went running straight to a nearby  supermarket . While I was looking for some bacon for my “Carbonara dinner”  , a beautiful lady promoting  the awarded red wine “Cuore Perduto”  fell under my eyes.

Her name was Nadia Pesce,  owner  of  the “Ricciardi Toscanelli Estate”  in Pontedera , who  produced that special wine. I congratulated her for the prize, but she didn’t know anything yet! It was so nice to read her happiness in her big green eyes!

She was there to share her products with common people in a ordinary day while shopping at a local supermarket rather than with the presumed cream of  wine experts!

Actually,  Nadia Pesce admitted she wasn’t crazy for wine events, because wine belonged to the hands of farmers ! We went on speaking about her personal history.

The history of Nadia Pesce, “Ricciardi Toscanelli Estate”, Pontedera

The family of Nadia Pesce moved 20 years ago from Veneto to Tuscany to manage here her historical plot of land , which  today goes by name “Ricciardi Toscanelli Estate “ .

In addition to the cultural historic value of  the “Ricciardi Toscanelli Estate “ , the scenic and environmental significance of the area is also notable. It combines the rural character of the agricultural plain and the rich vegetation of the wooded areas of the hills. It has been a great satisfaction to see that Tuscany has a huge heritage in wine-making sector that attracts entrepreneurs from every part of Italy!

If Tuscany is a land of great wines, the province of Pisa is no exception. Pisa  is magical, but there’s much more to it than the “Leaning Tower” and its rich art history: there are loads of hidden places  and a fabulous Wine & Food side that should not be overlooked! The wine region around Pisa is called the “Chianti oh the Hills of Pisa “.

The viticulture in Pisa goes back to Etruscan time!

Pisa Wine Production has been appreciated ever since the Etruscan period. The wine tradition of this area has very ancient roots: references to the wines produced in this hills have been found in fifteenth century writings.

Here agriculture and wine-growing were encouraged under the “Grand Duchy of Tuscany and, according to written testimonies, the excellent wines produced reached the markets of Florence where they had a very good reputation.

“San Torpè DOC”, the old white wine of Pisa

According to some written sources  the “White Wine  San Torpè” of Pisa has been produced here since 110 AD.

It became a “D.O.C. Wine”  (“Registered Designation of Origin”) in 1980 and this name was chosen to remember San Torpè,  who is a Christian martyr  from Pisa,  . He was a Nero’s soldier , who for his conversion to Catholicism  .

His body was  abandoned on a boat with a dog and a rooster . After a long sailing, the boat landed at a village on the French coast, which was then named for him. The head of  San Torpè,  is still kept in a  church of  Pisa dedicated to him.

 The “White Wine  San Torpè D.O.C.” of Pisa   is typical of several municipalities in the province of Pisa and in one municipality in Livorno. It is produced from  Trebbiano  (minimum 75%) and it is also produced in the two versions of “Vin Santo “ and “Vin Santo Riserva”.

Food in Pisa

The Cuisine in Pisa and its Province offers lots of variety and taste. It is famous for  grain, olives. There  are lots of  restaurants in the historic center of Pisa . They offer typical dishes and products:

What about the food in Pisa?

 Pisa’s cuisine varies from fish (eel, octopus) and seafood specialties to game dishes.  As far as desserts, a particular mention goes to “Torta con i Bischeri”. It’s a pastry based tart filled with rice cooked in milk and flavoured with lemon, vanilla and nutmeg with the addition of chocolate pieces, candy fruit, raisins and maraschino liqueur.

Vegetables grow in abundance here, given the mild climate of this part of Tuscany , and are used mostly to make quiche and frittatas. Beans are widely used.

My favourite dish is:

  •  “Pappa al Pomodoro”  : it’s made of stale bread,  peeled tomatoes, garlic, basil and olive oil.  that you could combine for example with one of those incredible  Tuscan wines already mentioned!

Pisa and its chocolate

Pisa is famous even for its Chocolate Valley” a place located between Pisa, Pistoia and Prato where you can find some of the best Italian chocolatiers.

Starting from Pontedera, here there is:

The wine and Pisa

Wine is a way to discover Pisa, which lies on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian sea. Although Pisa is known worldwide for its Leaning tower” (the “Bell Tower of the City’s Cathedral”) , it contains more than 20 other historic churches, several palaces and various bridges across the River Arno .  Pisa and its architecture of was financed from its history as one of the Italian Maritime Republics”.

Pisa is also home of the University of Pisa, which has a history going back to the 12th century and also has the mythic Napoleonic Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa” and Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies” as the best sanctioned Superior Graduate Schools in Italy”. Have a nice holiday!

 

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