Who is Roberto Cipresso?

Who is Roberto Cipresso?

Posted on by Stefania Tardino

“…If you want to thrill someone,  first try to feel  the same emotions you desire to awake…” .

R. Cipresso.

Roberto Cipresso, international winemaker of Montalcino

Scanning across the bookshelves in my flat, it dawns on me that my collection falls into three categories: wine, food and  travel! The three passions that form the  main plot of  ‘Wine, the secret Novel‘ , a book written by Roberto Cipresso. Roberto Cipresso presented his  outstanding work at ‘Nautilius‘ , an elegant restaurant by the sea and close to  Pisa .

It was an unforgettable event  that allowed me  to meet  one of the most important winemaker in  Italy, Roberto Cipresso . He is a special person, as well as a great wine entrepreneur.  From his base in Montalcino, Tuscany, he has changed winemaking worldwide. How?  Read his incredible story, and you will find the answer!

Roberto-Cipresso-The- Secret -Novel

‘Wine the Secret Novel’ , a novel by Roberto Cipresso

Andrea Baldeschi , the owner of the ‘Nautilius‘ restaurant,  hosted that memorable dinner in honour of  Roberto Cipresso.  A crowd of people were waiting to hear the famous vigneron speak about his life and his professional achievements.

First of all, Roberto Cipresso greeted us all with a big smile and then went on to introduce  ‘Wine, the Secret Novel‘  , one of  the three books he has written about wine.  It is an attempt to give a general outline of the history of wine.  Wine has rolled its barrel from the shores of the  Black Sea to the mountains of the Andes, following humans and their dreams. His book goes back through time  retracing the grape’s conquest of the world, stopping in each winemaking country, from the oldest to the most recent,  discovering wines past and present, while also looking to the future.

3 tops wines of Roberto Cipresso 

That evening at the ‘Nautilius‘ restaurant there was also a fantastic wine tasting, including some of the best wines of Roberto Cipresso :

    • ‘Punto Bianco Toscana IGT ‘:  This is a white wine made from Vermentino and Verdicchio. These grapes are the most representative of Italy, being cultivated in the region of the  the 43rd Parallel. This is  an imaginary line, which  traces through all the places that have given origin to viticulture throughout the world from Europe to the New World. The wine had a dry and even astringent taste , with a  contrasting rich coconut aroma, giving a nice round feel in the mouth, and a long-lasting finish.  It was paired with a delicious tuna pasta;
    • ‘Pi Greco Toscana IGT ‘ : This is a red wine made of 100%  Sangiovese   . It  offers primary flavours of tart cherry, red plum, strawberry, and fig, with subtle notes of roasted pepper, leather, and clay.  In its nose offers aromas of earth and tea leaf.  On the palate it is a full-bodied wine,  displaying a marked acidity, an important tannic structure and a long and intense persistence. It  was paired with a pasta enhanced with wild boar ragù;
    • ‘Quadratura del Cerchio’ : This wine is made from  Sangiovese (60%),  Montepulciano (20%) , and  Sagrantino (20%).  This is Roberto Cipresso‘s first attempt to make the ideal wine and it is his first attempt at wine experimentation. Its grapes are the best in Italy, and above all they grow along  the 43rd  Parallel!  This wine went perfectly with a  dish of (soft) veal and tiny roast potatoes.

Guests enjoyed the pleasant atmosphere of that unforgettable dinner at the ‘Nautilius‘ restaurant, while  Roberto Cipresso was seducing us all with his beautiful spell.  Here  are some important acts about his life  and professional background.

Roberto-Cipresso-writer-winemaker-Montalcino

Who is Roberto Cipresso? 

I felt the power of Roberto‘s personality,  while he was presenting his book that evening at the ‘Nautilius‘ restaurant! Roberto Cipresso is an oenologist, an international  winemaker, and writer. Without any doubt he is also a visionary leader . His way of  life makes him stand out from the rest of the crowd as regards the field of wine.

He can imagine things that others cannot imagine and sees the whole  landscape of winemaking as a big picture,  and not a single step. He is present and focused. You can connect with him, when  he talks about what he has in mind, or  when he teaches you something about wine,  or when he tells you about his travel, his previous job experiences, and his life!

The story of Roberto Cipresso 

Roberto Cipresso was born in  Bassano del Grappa (Veneto) in 1963 . Initially his first love was the mountains. He studied agriculture and received a master’s degree in viticulture in Padua, Northern Italy only out of necessity.  He thought  that skiing and climbing would  be his future,  though a terrible accident caused him to  change his ideas.

In order to study with Professor Attilio Scienza, a respected Italian scientist in the field of vine, in 1987 Roberto moved to Montalcino  . Forgetting that tragic episode,  he fell in love with the world of the wine,  thus  starting his winemaking career at three outstanding estates in Tuscany :

Mountains have played a large role in the life of  Roberto Cipresso.  In fact, he learnt how to survive and how to know  his limits! At the same time he improved his skill in observing nature, developing an extraordinary knowledge  of the vineyards of Tuscany in order to create wine.

He  learnt a lot about wine during his younger years in Montalcino , from the planting of grapes to how  the wine was bottled. It was the most challenging and formative step of his fantastic life’s work with wine.

The goals of Roberto Cipresso

Roberto Cipresso soon gained success, being invited to advise Italian producers  as well as wineries around the world, including those in South America (‘Achaval-Ferrer Winery’,  Argentina). Travelling helped  Roberto Cipresso open his mind. He experienced different realities of wine ,  observing wine from a different angle,  and eventually was ready to work as a wine consultant !

The opportunities Roberto Cipresso had to put his professional skills and ideas  as regards wine into practice are exemplified by  four of his major projects:

  1. ‘Fattoria La Fiorita’: In 1992 together with two popular partners, he founded this boutique winery in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, near Montalcino , which is still running. This boutique winery produced the iconic Brunello , gaining  numerous prestigious awards, including Parker points of 99, 98 and 97; 
  2. ‘Winemaking project’: In 1999 at the behest of wine industry professionals he created a team of qualified consultants in the field of agronomy and oenology  in collaboration with his brother Gianfranco, and his friend Santiago Achaval, who is the founder of  the stunning ‘Matervini winery’ in Argentina ;
  3. ‘Wine Circus’: In 2001 he created this big  wine lab  in Montalcino  , where ideas and projects are shared with wine experts and universities   in order to solve  problems  regarding the winemaking process;
  4. ‘Poggio al Sole’: In 1990 he crafted this modern five starred wine relais , which is situated between Siena and Florence.  Here  Roberto Cipresso  planted his precious grapes of   Brunello   , which are used in  the making of the  best labels of his red wines.
The wine hits parade of Roberto Cipresso 

Recalling the most important enterprising ventures of Roberto Cipresso together with his lifetime achievements awards in terms of wine and food  culture, means understanding his complex and sensitive soul: 

The 3 books about wine written by Roberto Cipresso

The list here above would already be too long, taking into account that  Roberto often gave  lectures and speeches at wine schools and important universities in the world ! Already famous for his achievements in Italy and Argentina,  Roberto  rapidly obtained recognition in Europe and North America as one of the world’s elite winemakers.

Roberto is a creative and multitalented man. Along with the benefits of his many abilities and passions, there is his love for writing, represented by  another three books he has written about wine and its mystery, published between  2006 and 2009::

The ‘Cipresso 43rd project’. How to  make the wine of the future!

Without any doubt, Roberto Cipresso  is a  charismatic, brilliant and enthusiastic wine entrepreneur! He still continues on his incredible adventure in his inspiring  wine experiment entitled ‘Cipresso 43 rd project’. According to Roberto Cipresso, rules are important  in producing a perfect wine,  though they cannot stop evolution. We should consider rules as a point of departure, not as a point of arrival!

Bearing this in mind, Roberto  started his revolution in the world of wine, thereby provoking scandal! He went beyond the traditional concept of terroir, which was not identified as such as being in a specific area of the world, though within the same horizon!

The theory of the 43rd Parallel 

According to Roberto’s recent research,  this horizon is  the 43rd Parallel, a magical  line containing singular physical and spiritual features regarding wine production,  situated halfway between the Equator and the North Pole.  This parallel runs through central and florid places, which have shaped the main grapes and phases in the evolution of vine culture from Mesopotamia to the USA:

‘The Cipresso 43 rd project‘  is an attempt to create an oenological itinerary using only grapes grown at a Northern latitude of 43rd degrees.  It could be considered an attempt to make the wine of the future.

Roberto-Cipresso-WeLoveItalyeu-wine-travel-blog-secret-novel-nautilus-restaurant-Tirrenia-Pisa

The X-factor of Roberto Cipresso

The life of Roberto Cipresso is about striving for excellence and harmony  not only in wine,  though  also in life.  Roberto doesn’t  limit himself only to his own thoughts and ideas. When you talk to him, he listens to whatever you have to say  attentively. He  encourages you to be as creative as possible and never to be afraid of presenting your own point of view!

Roberto  explained to me  the big picture of  his vision of wine and how to live  in this world. His  work is an essential part of his existence. It is not only about running a laboratory or doing analysis, it is mainly about being part of making something amazing. It  is by combining science, creativity and love, that you keep things interesting, and it is a great industry to be involved with as well. Roberto Cipresso  experiments with unconventional colors to find inspiration for his next masterpiece, that is still to come! I’m looking forward to it!

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Pisa,Tuscany

Pisa,Tuscany

Posted on by Stefania Tardino

“Pisa, o Pisa, per la fluviale , melodia che fa sì dolce il tuo riposo , ti loderò come colui che vide , immemore del suo male ,  fluirti il cuore , il sangue dell’aurore ,  e la fiamma dei vespri ,  e il pianto delle stelle adamantino , e il filtro della luna oblivioso“

Gabriele D’Annunzio

Beyond the “Leaning Tower” !

Pisa is a city in Tuscany, central Italy, 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”. Read this post about Pisa to know what to do in this amazing city of Tuscany!

Top 10 things to do 

When Pisa is mentioned, everybody thinks about its tower,  but this impressive “Leaning Bell Tower” it’s just one of the many monuments you can find in this nice Tuscan city. The beautiful “Piazza del Duomo” collects, in a unique architectural complex in the world, the so called “Campo dei  Miracoli“ (“Miracles Square”), the main religious monuments of the city:

Pisa, however, it’s not just about this square: it will be enough to move just a little to discover the artistic beauty that make Pisa one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. Buildings, monuments and museums keep alive the memory of a past time during which Pisa was the  “Maritime Republic” and, for a long time, the undisputed master of the Mediterranean sea .

1 The “Leaning Tower”

Symbol of the city, thanks to its characteristic slope, this tower is the most famous monument of “Piazza del Duomo” and it was built between the XII and the XIV century. The “Leaning Tower of Pisa”  leans because the ground gave during its early stage of construction, and since then it has remained in this way.

The tower  will never fall down!

Even if it could looks scaring, you don’t have to worry about it: the vertical axis, passing through its centre of gravity, falls into the support base, so the tower will never fall down, unless the laws of physics should be subverted.

We don’t have certain information about who built this tower, maybe it was the architect Diotisalvi, who in that period was working at the Baptistery. But even if there are several analogies between the two monuments the diatribe about the paternity of the tower is still open.  

2  The “Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta” 

The “Cathedral of Pisa”, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, is the most significant example of the Pisa Romanesque Art. The architect Buscheto joined the classical tradition with elements from the Norman, Byzantine, Pre-Christian and Arabic Arts, creating a new style which anticipated the Florentine Renaissance. It testifies the prestige that the “Maritime Republic of Pisa” reached in its moment of maximum power.

The revenge against Venice

Its construction began in 1604, in the same date of the beginning of the works of  the “Basilica of San Marco” in Venice.  Probably it was risen a sort of silent competition between the two Republics for who was able to build the most beautiful and sumptuous worship place.

The current aspect of the the Cathedral of Pisa is the result of continues restauration works made in different epochs. During the IX century some of the statues has been substituted with copies, the originals are now  in the “Museum of Opera del Duomo of Pisa”.

3 The “Baptistery”

The “Pisa Baptistery“ too forms the monumental complex of “Piazza del Duomo” . Its construction began in 1153 thanks to the architect Diotisalvi, as an  inscription inside an interior pillar testifies, but a lot of the sculptures on the façade have been made by Nicola Pisano and his son Giovanni.

The great Nicola Pisano

Nicola Pisano made also the pulpit that represents scenes from the Christ’s life and subject that represents the virtues: all masterpieces testify how their creator has been one of the principals precursors of the Renaissance Art.

 

 

The external dome covers only the first part of columns and probably the lack of money caused it. The dome, in fact,  is made by different materials (red shingles and lead plates); for the same reason there are no frescoes on the ceiling, even if they were on the original plan.

 

 

4 The monumental “Graveyard “

The last wonder of “Piazza del Duomo”  is the monumental “Graveyard of Pisa“, a sacred place. The crusaders brought there the saint-ground taken on the Golgotha mountain, just outside Jerusalem.

There are buried the most important people of Pisa, and there can be found art works from the Etruscan time passing through the Roman and Medieval era until the last century. Simple white marble walls guards the graves; the most important persons were buried into the garden or in the Roman sarcophagi, while the other were buried under the arcades.

The “Graveyard of Pisa” in the XIX century

In the XIX century “Graveyard of Pisa”, was restructured, the sarcophagi was moved under the arcades to protect them, so currently everything is under them. The mix between celebration of the history and the death made this “Graveyard of Pisa”, one of the most visited place during 1800 until the second world war bombardments caused serious damages to the frescoes. In 1945 started the renovation works and they are  still in progress.

5 Banks of the Arno

Pisa is also known for its Banks of the Arno: all the streets that go along the Arno are an important point of meeting for young people and reference’s point for the tourists.

There are important buildings, dated back to the Middle Age, that during the centuries have been transformed. Towers, bridges and buildings, in spite of their actual Renaissance appearance, have a medieval soul, which can’t be ignored by the eye of an attentive tourist.

What to see in the banks of Arno 

Among the great number of the banks of the Arno, the most famous is the Medicean one which hosts a great number of historical buildings, such as:

The beautiful church of “Santa Maria della Spina”

On the bank of the “Arno Gambacorti” there’s a small gothic jewel, the church of “Santa Maria della Spina”. It took this name in 1333 when it hosted  the relic of a spur from Christ’s Crown (now exposed in the church of  “Santa Chiara”).

If you are in Pisa on 16th June, you cannot miss the illustrations of San Ranieri: the backs of the Arno are illuminated by candle lights enhancing the outlines of all buildings and  creating a play of light and colors.

“Piazza dei Cavalieri” –“Knights Square” 

“Piazza dei Cavalieri” owes its name to the presence of the headquarter of the “Order of Knights of St. Stephen”.  For centuries it has been the site of a national civil power, even though today it’s above all a cultural and study place thanks to the presence of the:

“Piazza dei Cavalieri”  is an example of  designed by Giorgio Vasari, who decorated it  with allegorical figures and zodiacal signs. Close to it there is the beautiful “Palazzo dell’Orologio” (“Clock Palace”), medieval building in which it was built the “Torre della Fame” (“Tower of Starvation”).In the “Divine Comedy” Dante told the story that  the Count Ugolino della Gherardesca died in 1289, in that tower, with its children and grand children.The other buildings in the square are

The Mural made by Keith Haring 

In 1989, passing through Pisa, Keith Haring left to the city an extraordinary work of art:

The “Church of St. Anthony”

The “Church of St. Anthony”.is located close to the station, in an urban context in which the artist used to expressed itself at the best. A few months later Haring would die and this mural is one of his last works. He had this idea in  New York after a casual meeting with a Pisa student with whom he talked about world peace.

What about “Tuttomondo”? 

The characters inside the murals are 30, stuck like a puzzle, and each one represents one aspect of a world in  peace: there are “humanized” scissors defeating the evil serpent that was eating the head of the another figure.

Then there is motherhood, represented by the woman with the baby in her arms, the nature with the two men supporting the dolphin and so on. Haring used soft colors, as a form of respect for the beauty of Pisa.

He worked on it for a week, with the intention of making a permanent work, in fact, he used the colors specially made by craftsmen of the Caparol Center, tempera and acrylic that could keep intact the quality of color for a long time. After 20 years “Tuttomondo” is still there to remind us the brief and intense life of this extraordinary artist.

The city center 

If you pass through the old town centre of Pisa probably  you’ll pass through the “Narrow Borgo” (“burg”), or “the Borgo” as people of Pisa use to call it. It’s the most typical street of the center, with its colonnades, the shops, the café. Along the way you can see buildings of the XIV and XV centuries that formed the nucleus of the ancient Pisa: here the noble families and merchants competed to build the most beautiful, the tallest and  colourful building.

All that beauty  can be seen so much today. Going along “Via delle Colonne” you can arrive in “Piazza Vettovaglie”, secular place of the food market, originally “Piazza dei Porci”. Once the arcades of “Narrow Borgo” are finished there is “Piazza del Pozzetto”.

Marina di Pisa and its harbour 

Marina di Pisa and its tourist harbour  (also called simply “Marina”) is a seaside town located just 12 km from Pisa and, unlikely the majority of the Tuscan cities, its foundation is rather recent. In 1606, Ferdinando I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1587 to 1609, decided to reclaim the area by moving the River Arno mouth as he believed that the south-west wind could block the normal flow of the Arno River, increasing the risk of flooding in Pisa.

On the left bank there was an hexagonal building surrounded by a moat, called “the Fort“, which was the custom for the river traffic. Probably the first houses of fishermen were built around this structure, but the official foundation of the town dates back to 1872, when the municipality of Pisa drew up a plan of a grid-pattern town divided by three squares connected to Pisa by a major road, currently known as “D’Annunzio Avenue” (Viale d’Annunzio).

The first railway from Pisa to Marina di Pisa

On June 23, 1892 a steam railway line from Pisa to Marina di Pisa was inaugurated (later replaced by an electric one, no longer working as well), which contributed to its rapid growth as a tourist destination.

The first restaurants were built in this area, as well as beach resorts and inns. Also many beautiful Art Nouveau and Neo-Medieval Villas were built there, therefore many celebrities chose to buy a house in this new coastal town.

Gabriele D’Annunzio and Pisa

Gabriele D’Annunzio, a famous Italian writer, poet and journalist, brought an house here and Marina di Pisa  has been a source and inspiration of many of his poems.

Marina di Pisa is  a renowned destination for summer tourism, offering many accommodation facilities. Beaches are both sandy or with pebbles, and along the coast there are many bathing facilities and restaurants. In 2013, the “harbour of Pisa” was inaugurated just 10 minutes away from the city and its famous “Leaning Tower” and its international “Airport, Galileo Galilei”.

“San Rossore”, the green ara of Pisa

It is located in the center of the most extensive nature reserve of Tuscany, the “Natural Park of Migliarino”, “San Rossore” and Massaciuccoli, which covers about 24,000 hectares, ensuring that the view from the sea of dune plants is quite unique.

The harbour has 354 seats and has been designed to be entirely walkable thus you can walk admiring the sea, the mouth of the Arno, the Apuan Alps and the port itself.

Marina di Pisa offers relax and a beach break from the city, we suggest you to enjoy the seafront, a day at the (free) beaches or in a bathing establishment which is a structure with bathrooms, hot/cold showers, changing area, café and sometime restaurant.

You can rent an umbrella with chairs for the day/week/month/season and the service is available seven days a week. The harbour is a perfect spot for a walk and you can have a drink or a coffee here.

Night life 

Unlike other major European cities, Pisa is far from being the most sparkling venue when it comes to nightlife opportunities. Even the fact that Pisa is a university city and that students represent a consistent percentage of the population, a fairly solid buzz takes hold of certain parts of Pisa at night, especially nearby the University.

Students, are, as it were, the most reliable barometer as to the places fitted for drinking, making conversation and, why not, dancing and listening to live music. Thus, Pisa hosts a reasonable number of pubs, bars and clubs which yield mild and yet appealing nightlife opportunities. Tourists with a penchant for long conversations, drinking and dancing may find the center of the city to be the best fitted for their night time activities.

“Via Lungarno” 

“Via Lungarno” is a thoroughfare in terms of nightlife venues with its:

All these places offer good music, a fine selection of drinks and, why not, quick snacks in the early hours of the evening.

Live music 

Other recommendable venues in Pisa refer to:

During summer night time buzz seems to shift from Pisa to the nearby coastline resorts, such as Tirrenia, Viareggio and Marina di Pisa. If accommodated in Pisa, a trip to one of these resorts is worth making, if for nothing else, than for sampling the wonderful nightlife opportunities they put forward!

9 things to eat 

The gastronomy of Pisa isn’t very popular, because it isn’t very different from the Tuscany one, even if it’s more spiced and abundant . Here below  it is the ultimate list of top 10 foods you must eat :

 

Lampredotto sandwich

1. “Lampredotto”

Crostini toscani

2. “Crostini Toscani”

Panzanella

3. “Panzanella” 

Lardo di Colonnata

4. “Lardo di Colonnata” 

Ribollita

5. “Ribollita”

Pappa al pomodoro

6. “Pappa al Pomodoro” 

Caciucco

7. “Cacciucco” 

Castagnaccio

9. “Castagnaccio“

 

 

Where to sleep 

Pisa attracts about 1 million of different tourists: there are many foreigners. Italians who visit for a school weekend, many trips and even a good number of people who commute to the city to take advantage of the excellent local hospitals.

It’s therefore not easy to find a cheap room, especially in high season and during periods of school trips. I suggest, therefore, to book in advance especially if you want three stars midrange hotels in the tourist areas.

The prices of hotels 

The prices of hotel in the center of   Pisa  start from 80 € per night in a double room including breakfast. A good alternative are the hotels and cottages on the outskirts of Pisa. If you are looking for a right accommodation in Pisa, go to Booking.com . There is a big choice  with prices, pictures  and comments of guests already stayed there.

Pisa, a stunning destination for your holiday in Tuscany

Travelers come from all locations of the world to discover the beauty of Pisa for several reasons: art, culture, friendly people, wine & food, extraordinary country side,  attractive beaches and  weather (spring and late summer are the best times to visit  Pisa).

Click  here in the web site of  “Pisa Unica Terra”   to discover much more in Pisa. We’re waiting for you!

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‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’, Lucca

‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’, Lucca

Posted on by Stefania Tardino

“Chi non ama le donne, il vino e il canto è solo un matto , non un santo”.

A. Schopenhauer

‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’,  Lucca

‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’  è un’ azienda agricola di lusso, che definirei  quasi surreale per la sua bellezza. Essa sta nascosta , ma ancora per poco, tra le magnifiche e dolci colline lucchesi di Pieve di Santo Stefano. Claudia Martinelli, responsabile della società di marketing ‘Darwin & Food’ , mi inivita a una degustazione dei loro superbi vini.

‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’    è un pò difficile da trovare, almeno per me , specie sotto  un  sole cocente , quello tipico di una mattina di luglio .  Mi smarrisco   in macchina per delle stradine strette in direzione  Pieve di Santo Stefano  . Tuttavia non mi scoraggio . Dopo un’oretta da Pisa  raggiungo la loro  sede in via della Chiesa 504 B . L’emozione di ritrovarmi con altri giornalisti e blogger per questo evento straordinario è infinita. Seguitemi per sapere di cosa si tratta!

Wolfgang Reitzle e Nina Ruge

Arrivata a  ‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’ i gestori ci accolgono con un sorriso enorme . Inizialmente facciamo un giro dentro il parco enorme. Questo è immerso in una natura ordinata e rigogliosa. Accanto la piscina c’è l’ingresso per la sala degustazione. Dopo avere varcato delle grandi porte in ferro battut, ci mettiamo comodi sulle sedie. Tutto lo staff della stampa è incantato dalla raffinatezza degli interni e dell’apparecchiatura della tavola, imbandita con posate d’argento.

‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’ vuol dire anche un serivzio eccellente ! Appena i camerieri servono i vari bianchi e rossi aziendali,  stiamo fermi e immobili ad ascoltare la storia della tenuta attraverso le parole dell’ ingegnere tedesco Wolfgang Reitzle. Lui  ne  è il fondatore  insieme alla moglie Nina Ruge, famosa giornalista e presentatrice alemanna. Ciò che mi stupisce è soprattutto l’ ottimo rapporto qualità prezzo dei loro prodotti enoici, che esprimono al meglio lo splendore lo spirito della Toscana.

Wolfgang Reitzle

Il sogno diventato realtà di Wolfgang Reitzle

Wolfgang Reitzle è il proprietario di ‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’ . Questi è un signore   alto , distinto , di una classe innata. Lui è  felice  di parlare  di come nel tempo è riuscito a trasformare la sua passione per il vino in un lavoro, che adesso  si è  materializzato in ‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’ .

Wolfgang Reitzle, ex dirigente della ‘BMW’ e poi CEO della ‘Ford’, ci spiega che tutto è nato quasi per caso. Sin da piccolo l’imprenditore tedesco si reca frequentemente  in Toscana  per le vacanze  con la sua famiglia.  Da allora il desiderio di viverci è forte.  A tal punto che poi , nel corso della sua vita , decide di acquistare un fazzoletta  di terra  nella regione più amata d’Italia.

Come nasce la ‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’ ?

Wolfgang Reitzle  vuole creare così un posto dove coltivare la vite e produrre nettari divini  fatti di vitigni locali come:

L’ occasione è il 2001 . Wolfgang Reitzle compra  la ‘Villa Bertolli’ assieme ad alcuni oliveti e ad un vigneto di circa un ettaro. La propirtà era della famiglia Bertolli .  I signori Reitzle e Ruge ribattezzano la villa  ‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’. E lo fanno in onore della pittoresca ‘Pieve del IX secolo’ , che si trova nelle immediate vicinanze.

cantina-villa-santo-stefano-lucca-wine-travel-blog-weloveitalyeu

‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’ , uno staff eccezzioanle per dei vini speciali

Wolfgang Reitzle ci confessa che non è facile mettere in piedi un’impresa agricola come ‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’  di così grande di portata. Non lo aiuta il fatto di essere straniero in Italia.  Perché ci sono molti problemi burocratici e logistici da risolvere. Non ultimo l’interrogativo se fare tutto ciò è da pazzi o da pionieri!

Da grande uomo di affari qual è Wolfgang Reitzle riesce nel suo intento . E dal 2005 a oggi l’avventura con ‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’ continua con successo . Tutto ciò  grazie anche al supporto dei suoi affetti e dei suoi fidati collaboratori nelle figure di :

Al momento ‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’  rileva nei suoi 11 ettari di terreno:

La filosofia che guida la  ‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’  è la ricerca della perfezione nel fare vino ed olio sfruttando al massimo tutte le potenzialità di questo paradiso  benedetto da Dio.

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I vini di ‘ Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’

I vini di ‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’ sono particolari, biologici, strutturati i rossi e leggiadri i bianchi. Assaggiare un calice di vino lucchese è un’esperienza speciale. Questo   ancora una volta conferma la ricchezza del patrimonio vitivinicolo  della Toscana senza passare per forza attraverso nomi blasonati!

Degustazione di 5 vini 

Una delle caratteristiche più distintive dei vini  di ‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’ è la sapiente mescolanza di vitigni autoctoni con varietà di origine francese.  Oltre un terroir da manuale fatto di peculiarità pedoclimatiche esclusive che sono:

  • Terreni misti e prevalentemente argillosi;
  • Una temperatura mite tutto l’anno;
  • Ua combinazione di vicinanza al mare e montagna, che conferiscono a questi vini il loro sapore distinto.

Ecco le etichette in assaggio della ‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’ :

  1. ‘Gioia 2018 e 2019’ : è un ‘IGT Toscano’, un vino bianco fatto al 100 %  di Vermentino . Questo vitigno  cresce spontaneo dalla Lucchesia alla Liguria .  Esso proviene da un vitigno adiacente l’azienda esposto a Sud , vicino alle spiagge della Versilia distanti circa 20 km . Qui c’è un microclima straordinario, che si riflette nell’aroma fragrante del vino stesso. La selezione e la raccolta delle uve , è eseguita scrupolosamente a mano. E dopo la diraspatura e pigiatura, le uve subiscono una leggera macerazione di qualche ora prima di essere vinificate in bianco. La fermentazione dura dai 15 ai 20 giorni e si avvale delle tecnologie più innovative. Il  processo avviene infatti in vasche di acciaio a temperatura controllata tra i 15° e i 16°. Questo vino bianco, nelle due diverse annate, possiede un bouquet armonico e fruttato, una buona acidità e un tocco di mineralità che si avverte nel finale;
  2. ‘Luna 2019’ : fatto di 50% Merlot e 50% Sangiovese , è un rosé sobrio, che va bene su tutte le portate di mare e di carni bianche . Ed è perfetto anche per un aperitivo. Esso ha un colore rosa provenzale, al naso è pulito con profumi che ricordano la pesca bianca e la buccia di mela rossa;
  3. ‘Volo 2019’ : è ‘IGT Toscano‘ fatto di  40% Petit Verdot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon e 20% Alicante.  Questo è un un vino che si presenta con un colore rosso intenso e con sfumature violacee frutto della sua giovane età. Al naso è floreale, con note di prugne, more e ciliegie, con un finale delicato di cipria. Al palato si esprime frizzante, con un buon tannino ed un’ acidità equilibrata  che lo fanno diventare di gradevole beva;
  4. ‘Sereno 2016, 2017 e 2018’ : è una ‘DOC Colline Lucchesi’ fatto da  80% di Sangiovese e 20% tra Ciliegiolo e da altri vitigni del posto. Si tratta di un vino dal colore rosso rubino con riflessi porpora, al naso  note di violetta, frutti rossi e spezie. Al palato è morbido con un finale gradevole di frutta;
  5. ‘Loto 2015, 2017 e 2018’ : è il vino più pregiato di ‘Villa Santo Stefano’ fatto di  50% Cabernet Sauvignon,  40% Merlot e 10% Petit Verdot . Per ogni vite vengono selezionati non più di quattro grappoli, per garantire il massimo della resa da ogni pianta. Nel 2015 è stato installato un impianto computerizzato ad alta tecnologia utilizzato per garantire un processo di fermentazione e vinificazione ottimale. Di norma, il processo di fermentazione dura 12 giorni. L’affinamento dura, a seconda della tipologia di uva e dell’annata. Essa va  dai 12 ai 18 mesi ed avviene in pregiate barrique francesi, in una barriccaia a temperatura (15°C) e umidità (83%) controllate. Il tipo di legno utilizzato per le barrique viene selezionato a seconda della tipologia di uva. Al termine dell’affinamento viene composta la cuvée e viene quindi imbottigliato il vino, che dovrà attendere almeno altri 6 mesi prima di essere distribuito. Questo è un vino di spessore, di corpo, che si presenta con un colore che può arrivare al rosso rubino intenso ed ha sentori di frutti di bosco, tabacco e vaniglia.

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Pranzo nel giardino della ‘ Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’

Tra una chiacchiera e l’altra il tempo vola . Lo stomaco brontola percè è ora di pranzo. Nel dehors esterno della ‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’  tra fontane zampillanti di acqua e alberi abbracciati da boccioli di rosa iniziano il nostro lauto banchetto.

Il nostro pergolato ci protegge un po’ dalla calura estiva che finisce di darci fastidio non appena lo chef Riccardo Santini del Vignaccio ci annuncia il menù della festa:

  • Una panzanella di pomodoro e cipolle all’aceto balsamico;
  • Una ‘torta lunigiana  d’Erbi’ di bietole spinaci e rapini;
  • Uno sformato di fagiolini e formaggio di ‘Scoppolato di Pedona’; 
  • Faraona, zuppa di porro e patate;
  • Un sorbetto al melone per pulire la bocca.

Regalatevi una fuga a ‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’! 

‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’ è un borgo incantato che ti strega non appena varchi il cancello all’entrata. Vi potete   perdere per ritrovarvi.  Vi rilassate tra il  lusso garbato  e tanti  vini pregiati . Questi danno il meglio riposando a lungo. Così sono  pronti per essere stappati e consumati per celebrare un momento speciale.

‘Cantina Villa Santo Stefano’   con i loro vini vi dà la possibilità di scoprire la Toscana. Perchè venire? I motivi sarebbero tanti, e vanno oltre l’uva!  Qui potere fare delle  vacanze all’insegna dell’arte e della storia, della natura, del mare o del relax,  Questa splendida regione sa offrire davvero di tutto e accontentare ogni tipo di viaggiatore: dalle città d’arte famose in tutto il mondo ai borghi medievali, dalle dolci colline del Chianti fino alle spiagge della Versilia e alle isole dell’arcipelago. Buon viaggio!

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‘Podere Marcampo’ winery, Volterra, Tuscany

‘Podere Marcampo’ winery, Volterra, Tuscany

Posted on by Stefania Tardino

“Accept what life offers you and try to drink from every cup. All wines should be tasted; some should only be sipped, but with others, drink the whole bottle.”

Paulo Coelho

‘Podere Marcampo winery‘ , Volterra, Tuscany

Six years ago two things happened to change my life. First of all, I fell in love with Tuscany , and then I became a sommelier. These were the starting points allowing me to discover the hidden delights of the wine of Pisa . Its area is a charming sun kissed land, stretching from the hills to the sea, blessed by God, as beautiful as unexpected!

Wine runs deep in the veins of Tuscany, being woven into the cultural identity of this central Italian paradise. The wines of Pisa are synonymous with excellence thanks to the efforts of many skilled professionals.

Follow me reading my post about ‘Podere Marcampo winery’ , which is one of the most rappresentative wine enterprise  in Pisa. You’ll discover hidden treasure in the hills of Pisa.

‘Podere Marcampo Winery’ , the jewellery of the hills of Pisa

‘Podere Marcampo winery’ is one of the most important wine business  in the hills of Pisa.  ‘The hills of Pisa’ is not only a ‘DOC label’ , but also a ‘wine road’ , playing an increasingly important role in wine production in Tuscany . It’s  on the rise only recently , starting to get the recognition that is deserves.

‘The hills of Pisa’ meanders through the hills of the valley of the Era River and the lower part of the Arno Valley crossing a territory with traditions dating back to the time of the Etruscans.

‘Podere Marcampo winery’ is green! 

If you head towards this entrancing place you will be greeted by an environment almost untouched by modernity . It ranges from picturesque scenery of mesmerising color set amongst the trees to places, where wine and oil are still cultivated and produced in the traditional way.

‘Podere Marcampo winery’  is an organic biodynamic wine estate which reflects all the beauty and wine production potential of the ‘the hills of Pisa’

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Claudia del Duca, the woman of the wine at ‘Podere Marcampo winery’

In February the first time I sipped the elegant wines of   ‘Podere Marcampo winery’   at ‘Terre di Toscana’. This was  a wine exhibition , which took place at the ‘Luna Hotel’ in Viarreggio. Claudia Del Duca, the owner of ‘Podere Marcampo winery’, invited me to visit her estate in Volterra.

Claudia was very friendly and  professional . What impressed me the most about her was her dedication to her work , and her love for wine,  which she  shared with her parents Genuino and Ivana del Duca.

A wonderful experience at ‘Podere Marcampo winery’

So, I arrived at ‘Podere Marcampo winery’ on a rainy day in late November in  ‘Podere Marcampo winery’  . It’ s a family farm business, which is surrounded by lush and verdant countryside. It produces both excellent and also rare red and white wines, extra virgin olive oil and grappa.

Claudia welcomed me with a big smile. Looking at this scene where sky and sea converge at the Tuscan horizon in an endless embrace, I felt overcome with emotion. We sat down in a small patio near the front of a  private residence, where we talked about the history of the whole family .

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Genuino del Duca, the man of the wine at ‘Podere Marcampo Winery‘

Claudia explained that ‘Podere Marcampo winery’  was born in 1971 , when her father Genuino del Duca , having been promoted at work as a policeman, had moved from Abruzzo to Volterra . Then he  came up with the idea of transforming his passion for food and wine into a full time job.

Actually, Genuino del Duca wanted to create a new career in food and wine, so that he could resign from his day to day work as a policeman, and worked hard to make this dream come true! In the beginning it was not easy.  Though having climbed through the ranks at work , in 2001 he was able to open a small inn in Saline, a small town near Volterra.

The history of ‘Podere Marcampo winery’

By 2003 Genuino del Duca had earned enough money to open ‘Enoteca del Duca’, which is an exclusive restaurant in the center of Volterra. In 2005 he managed to buy ‘Marcampo’ a historic homestead, which had been abandoned though captured his heart as well as sparking his imagination.

Genuino del Duca restored ‘Marcampo’ shortly afterwards transforming it into what ‘Podere Marcampo winery’   is today! That is  an extraordinary holiday home , as well as a farm and winery, which is surrounded by 4 hectares of land.  Here he  takes care of his  best local grapes:

Genuino del Duca and his passion for wine 

Genuino  had to work hard to make his land suitable for wine growing because of the original salt and clay content of the soil. He had to plant the best rootstocks with roots to a maximum depth of 1 meter and did a lot for being successful.

Today, ‘Podere Marcampo winery’  is a real gem situated within a  national park known as ‘Le Balze’, which is a magical place where visitors can slow down and unwind. At ‘Podere Marcampo winery’ there are:

  • an outdoor swimming pool;
  • a sunlit terrace;
  • vineyards;
  • gardens;
  • olives tree

A tour at ‘Podere Marcampo Winery’

After a short walk through the vineyards Claudia explained the winemaking process starting with the working of the land to the bottling in the wine cellar and this for me was the best part of the tour.

In the tasting room I sampled high quality wines paired with homemade cured meats and local cheeses. ‘Podere Marcampo winery’  is completely hand worked by Genuino and Claudia and is organic, completely free of any pesticides.

A couple of million years ago this area lay at the bottom of the sea . That’s why  the soil is rich in fossil shells , and is characterised by a particular geology of sand, silt, clay and limestone . They have been stable for centuries giving a complexity, structure and minerality to these well balanced wines.

The wines of  ‘Podere Marcampo winery’

These are the best award winning labels I tasted:

• ‘Terrablu’: It’s a white wine made from Vermentino and Malvasia . The grapes are first processed by the modern technique of maceration in order to preserve all the aromas of the variety . There are four months of fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. On the palate there are notes of lime, almond, green apple and white florals , with a unique sense of refreshing acidity, its charm being in its delicate, briny nose and long, fresh palate;

• ‘Giusto alle Balze’: It’s a red wine made from 100% Merlot. It’s vinified in stainless steel vats, then aged in oak barrels for 12 months. It’s left to settle for another 6 months before bottling. It is my favourite wine , because of its soft and sensual texture and approachable style. This wine has won the silver medal at ‘Mondial du Merlot’ in Lugano and the ‘Concours Mondial Merlot’ in Brussels;

• ‘Severus’: It’s a red wine made from a selection of 100% Sangiovese. It’ s  vinified in stainless steel vats then aged in oak barrels for 12 months.  This wine is  left to settle for another 12 months before bottling. Tasting of clove spice and cherries ,  it’s also savoury,  providing a wide range of tastes from the very earthy and rustic to the rounded and red fruit;

• ‘Marcampo’: It’s a red wine made from 50% Sangiovese and 50% Merlot.  These two varieties are vinified separately in stainless steel vats and blended after 12 months in oak barrels. The wine is left to settle for another 6 months before being bottled. It is a powerful combination of the sweet, juicy, fruit flavours of Merlot, and the rustic, sour-cherry tang of Sangiovese;

• ‘Genuino’: It’s a red wine made from 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot.  These two varieties are vinified separately in stainless steel vats and then blended and bottled after 10 months. It’s a medium bodied moderately tannic wine , with a lovely cherry flavour, which impresses with its ruby red, vinous though also fruity and floral, dry and firm taste.

From the start Genuino and Claudia make wines just as they envisage them. Their winemaking takes its course, the grapes being gently guided through a gentle process until they arrive at carefully selected barrels for resting, maturing and evolving.

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The restaurant ‘Enoteca del Duca’ in  Volterra

After our fantastic wine tasting, Genuino , Claudia and myself made our way down to the ‘Enoteca del Duca’ , whic is their restaurant in the centre of Volterra. Genuino’s wife, Ivana runs this fine and intimate restaurant , which is equipped with a terrific outdoor garden and excellent wine cellar housed in a historic building situated  in  ‘Priori Square’

‘Enoteca del Duca’ offers a special kind of  gourmet cuisine . Its  menu changes according to the season and the availability of ingredients. My lunch   was really wonderful and the service impeccable. I tried their best wines along with their home-made pasta in beef broth and their boar stew.

Wine and food of top quality!

The quality of wine and food was outstanding, the ambience wonderfully inviting . When you go, ask to see their beautiful wine cellar , which is packed with many unknown treasures! Genuino’s family form a perfect team when it comes to satisfying food and wine lovers.

Claudia also organizes cooking classes at their farm demonstrating how to make fresh pasta or ‘focaccia’ whilst also allowing you to discover the secrets of homemade cake making all under the guidance of a professional Italian chef.

Volterra, amazing city in Tuscany

I thanked Genuino and Claudia warmly for the wonderful memories they had provided me. They had made me feel at home . Before going back to Pisa, it was a good idea to explore Volterra,because there is lot of things to see and to do!

The history of Volterra

Volterra is a delightful  medieval town . I think it well deserves a place in this list of the best towns of Tuscany . Its narrow streets are full of  old churches, palaces, secret chapels, intimate restaurants and alabaster shops , where you can watch artisans at work.

Alabaster has long been a big industry in Volterra. Softer and easier to work than marble, this translucent material was traditionally thinly sliced to provide windows for Italy’s medieval churches.

What to see in Volterra

The best way to appreciate Volterra is to walk through its cobbled lanes, enjoying :

3 things to visit in Volterra 

Other things to visit in Volterra include:

  1. ‘The Alabaster Museum’: This museum is housed in the 13th-century ‘Minucci Towers’. It boasts the ancient alabaster tradition of  Volterra has an . Art fans can watch sculptors at work and can purchase locally made alabaster in the studio shop;
  2. ‘The Guarnacci  Museum‘: It houses the world’s largest collection of Etruscan funerary urns,  used to collect the ashes of the dead;
  3. ‘Roman Cistern’: It’s located at the top of the hill by the ‘Medicean Fortress’. The cistern, made of opus caementicium, had to supply the whole area of the ‘acropolis’ with water. It’s formed by a large rectangular room divided into three naves covered with a barrel vault with six pillars in stone blocks. The entire building can be dated to the first century. d. C. and for its capacity, which is about 1000 cubic meters, must have been built with public money.

Famous films set in Volterra

In recent years Volterra  has attracted international recognition for its connection with the ‘Twilight’ series of books and movies, part of the second movie ‘New Moon’ being set in Volterra though most of the movie was actually filmed in another Tuscan town.

More than 2000 years ago Volterra was a key trading center and one of the most important Etruscan cities and was protected by a wall four miles long, twice the length of the wall that encircles Volterra today. You can still see the mighty Etruscan gate, built from volcanic stone.

Bye Bye Volterra! 

Tuscany is a pretty large region, and all of it is stunning. There is so much to see and do that I can’t suggest any particular good guide or website! But even in the short time I spent here, there’s so much to recommend to you I don’t even know where to start!

It would be a good idea to enjoy any good wines in Tuscany ,  not just to drink them, but to experience  people, places, and cultures . The  Tuscans consider themselves the inheritors and stewards of a centuries-long legacy of beauty.

Every tree that’s planted, every farmhouse that’s restored, every road that’s re-routed — it’s all carefully considered not only on practical or economic merits, but also on aesthetics. Get lost among  this huge amount of artistic wonders!

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Cantina “Il Borro Cantina”, I Fasti di San Colombano, Lucca

Cantina “Il Borro Cantina”, I Fasti di San Colombano, Lucca

Posted on by Stefania Tardino

“San Colombano”, Lucca

Il mio fantastico viaggio nel Mondo del Vino inizia con  l’AIS di Lucca, ed è proprio nelle mura di questa città che stasera proseguo il mio itinerario enoico, fermandomi  in un posto esclusivo,  il Ristorante “San Colombano” . Seguitemi!

Il Natale è nell’aria , fa freddo a Lucca,  però  la città gioiello mi  scalda con il suo fascino e  le sue luci. Ad accogliermi nel ristorante la sua bella proprietaria  la Sommelier Simona Carmassi. L’atmosfera al “San Colombano” è intima e raccolta, e Simona con un sorriso enorme fa accomodare me e il resto dei numerosi ospiti ai tavoli, che sono elegantemente imbanditi per l’ Evento Speciale che mi aspetta: una Cena Degustazione tutta  Made in Tuscany.  Protagonisti dello Spettacolo Enogastronomico  i Piatti Stellati dello chef  Giuseppe Da Prato, preparati con prodotti rigorosamente locali, e i  Vini  della Cantina “Il Borro”, presentati dallo charmant  Berardino Dino Torrone,  responsabile vendita Italia di questa prestigiosa cantina in Valdarno. In regia dietro le quinte  ci sono i Sommelier Fratelli Zanni, che scelgono l’abbinamento Cibo/Vino per un Menù perfetto. Iniziano le danze, e tra una portata e l’altra, cala un  silenzio quasi sacro in sala, interrotto solo dalla spiegazione dello Staff del “San Colombano” sulle portate e sul  nettare divino. Da leccarsi i baffi! Provo a non farvi venire invidia, ma ho i miei dubbi. Siete pronti? Tra candele e scintillii di bicchieri, ecco i  fasti di “San Colombano” :

Provo a chiedere allo Chef  Giuseppe Da Prato di svelarmi qualche piccolo segreto delle sue ricette, ma non c’è niente da fare. Mi invita a ritornare e a provare qualche altro capolavoro culinario preparato da lui e da altri maghi dei fornelli,  che lo aiutano, un gruppo di ragazzi che,  nonostante la giovane età , hanno una grande esperienza nella migliore ristorazione regionale.

E sicuramente Domenica 16 Dicembre 2018 non mi perderò  il prossimo appuntamento al “San Colombano”: “Mille Bolle d’Auguri” , una passerella  dei migliori Champagne per celebrare l’arrivo di queste feste.  Non mancate a quest’altro galà Lucchese, per sorprendervi con  Nuovi Accostamenti ed Etichette che hanno dentro tutta la straordinaria Tradizione Enogastronomica della Toscana, una regione che fa sognare, come la storia che sto per raccontare.

La Cantina “Il Borro”: il Buon Vivere Toscano

La Cantina “Il Borro” è  in Toscana,  in Valdarno, nell’area Chianti DOCG, un ambiente unico per genesi e morfologia, da secoli fondamento per la coltivazione della Vite . Sembra che i primi “esperimenti di Chianti” siano stati fatti proprio in questa ricca vallata , che offre ai suoi visitatori boschi incontaminati, lunghi torrenti e dolci colline.

La Cantina  “Il Borro” si trova precisamente nel comune di Loro Ciuffena e prende il  nome dal borgo castello in cui sorge, detto appunto “il Borro”, che in dialetto toscano vuol dire “fossato”; una delle tante misure di difese prese nel Medioevo da questo posto spettacolare, a difesa delle frequenti incursioni degli stranieri , che  se lo sono conteso frequentemente  per la sua posizione e prosperità. La Cantina “Il Borro” è  un gioiello incastonato in un luogo pieno di storia,  che si estende per 700 ettari tra vigne ed uliveti, all’ombra dei cipressi dell’antica “Via dei Setteponti”,  un territorio vocato all’ Arte e alla Cultura,  tra  Firenze, Arezzo e Siena.  Si tratta di un angolo nascosto della Toscana, che una volta scoperto per la prima volta, fa innamorare e  non andare più via , come è accaduto in un lontano passato alle illustri famiglie dei Medici e dei Savoia, che ne hanno segnato le vicende, e in un presente più recente ai Numero Uno della Moda Italiana Ferruccio e Salvatore Ferragamo.

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Ferruccio Ferragamo rimane folgorato dalla bellezza di questo Antico Borgo Toscano durante una battuta di caccia nel 1985,  e nel 1993 decide di acquistare definitivamente la proprietà dal Duca di Savoia, lasciandolo poi in eredità al figlio Salvatore Ferragamo.

Da allora Ferruccio e Salvatore hanno lavorato incessantemente e con amore, per trasformare quello che prima era un rudere distrutto dalla Seconda Guerra Mondiale in quello che oggi è diventato un Relais di Lusso.  “Il Borro Relais & Châteaux” è pensato per chi vuole prendersi una pausa fuori dal tempo. Un’Oasi interamente dedicata all’Arte, alla Cultura, al Cibo & Vino di Qualità, e  all’Ospitalità . Un lembo di paradiso che racconta una Toscana inedita, dove trovano rifugio dagli appassionati più esigenti di Spa, Golf ed Equitazione, ai Wine & Life Lovers più semplici, che si emozionano davanti alla natura, che qui  si manifesta in tutto il suo rigoglio nei filari di Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot e il più tipico Sangiovese. La famiglia Ferragamo porta in alto il nome del Made in Italy nel mondo attraverso il Vino firmato “Il Borro”  , un’ Etichetta  d’Autore, con qualità, classe, semplicità, rispetto della tradizione e del territorio, e con uno sguardo verso il futuro. Oggi  i Ferragamo  hanno salvaguardato la preziosità di questi paesaggi, mantenendone intatto il fascino,  e contribuendo così ad affermare  sempre più il brand Toscana nel Mondo, nel Turismo e nei Prodotti di Eccellenza.

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 Scusate , adesso vado a preparare le valigie.

Alla prossima!  Sempre se ritorno…

Enjoy It! 

Stefania