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Italian wines, Italy, Sylvia Italy, Tuscany

Event Food and Wine in progress

04/12/201904/12/2019by SylviaItalyLeave a Comment

Food and Wine in Progress

Last weekend I visited the event Food and Wine in Progress in Florence Tuscany. An event in the heart of Florence to explore the world of Tuscany wines and food. This event takes place in “Stazione Leopolda” and attracts many food and wine lovers each year!

Exhibitors show many food and wine delicacies. Chefs prepare local dishes and propose creative food combinations. In addition big names and small producers of the most famous wineries of Tuscany participate to the Food & Wine in Progress event. Wine tastings are offered to guests and many wines are accompanied by events, presentations and show cooking.

Tasting Piandaccoli wines with the best AIS sommelier 2019 in Italy

Wineries

Wineries I work with represented their wines. Sada produces different types of quality wines including: Vermentino, Toscana IGT and Bolgheri Superiore.

Piandaccoli instead showcased their Chianti Reserve and a variety Tuscany IGT wines made from autochthonous grapes: Mammalo and Foglia Tonda.

Serving “Baciami” spumante 100% made from Mammolo grapes

Florence

The Food and Wine in Progress event gives you also the opportunity to visit Florence. The weather in November is not very warm and it’s less crowded in the historical centre. One more reason to visit this event in Florence!

Restaurant in Florence

Before visiting the Food and Wine in Progress event I went out to Florence for a delightful lunch. Trattoria “Nella” is near Piazza della Signoria. It is a great traditionally restaurant for delicious food and nice service. The owner is charismatic and he looked after me very well!

They have a good ri-bollita (Tuscan bread – vegetable soup) and the best homemade chocolate cake I’ve every had. Yummy!

Adres:
Trattoria Nella
Via delle Terme 19R
50123 Firenze

Italy, Sylvia Italy, Tuscany, Wine and Food experience Montepulciano

Olive oil mill in Montepulciano

22/11/201922/11/2019by SylviaItalyLeave a Comment

Il Frantoio di Montepulciano

Frantoio means olive oil mill or olive oil press. Many olive oil producers rely on an external frantoio. Il Frantoio di Montepulciano is established in Montepulciano and counts 600 members. It is a farmers cooperative that supply members various services for the production of extra virgin olive oil.

Olive oil production in Siena

The olive groves are cultivated in the province of Siena. The gently rolling hills around Montepulciano are suitable for cultivating olive groves. The altitude of the hills are about 300-650 m above sea level.

In the province of Siena are many small producers who cultivate olive trees. The farmers take care of the plants by pruning and harvesting for having good olive oil every year.

After harvesting by hand or with mechanical shakers the farmers bring the olives in boxes to the olive mill “frantoio”. The olives are washed to remove dirt. When ready, the olives will be crushed and pressed cold (< 28 degrees) in a modern machine.

Thanks to the cold press the olives keep their properties for a high quality extra virgin olive oil. After the extraction of the oil, the olive oil will be soon packed in bottles, cans or in small tins.

Different types of olive oil

Il Frantoio di Montepulciano produces different types of high quality olive oils. Olive oil extra virgin from il Frantoio di Montepulciano is obtained from the olive varieties Leccino, Frantoio and Moraiolo.

Leccino, Frantoio and Moraiolo olive varieties

Olio Extravergine di Oliva 100% Italiano

Oil produced with a range of traditional Tuscan olive varieties.

Olio Extravergine di Oliva DOP Terre di Siena

DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) guarantees the area of production and qualitative characteristics of the olives. Olio extravergine di Oliva DOP Terre di Siena is a very high quality olive oil.

Olio Extravergine di Oliva IGP Toscano

IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) is similar to DOP. IGP olive oil extra virgin is obtained with olives grown in Tuscany. This oil is quality guaranteed.

Olio Extravergine di Oliva Biologico

Organic olive oil is olive oil produced following the European regulation on organic production and labeling on organic products. The olive oil must be obtained from locally grown organic olives. These olives are not treated by chemicals.

All products mentioned above have different flavors. But the fresher the oil is, the better it tastes. Above all extra virgin olive oil is rich in antioxidants and consumption of olive oil may benefit your overall health in several ways.

Throughout the year you can visit the mill “Il Frantoio di Montepulciano” and taste the oils that are produced.

Italian wines, Sylvia Italy, Tuscany

Hand picking the grapes

09/10/201909/10/2019by SylviaItalyLeave a Comment

Grape harvest

Hand picking the grapes means that pickers go through the vineyard and pick the grapes bunch by bunch. They can choose the ripe grapes, or rather, they can avoid picking rotten or bad grapes.

The grape harvest in Tuscany usually occurs between September and October. The right period for harvesting is determined by the ripeness of the grape as measured by sugar, acid and tannin levels. Also the weather is important by planning the time of the harvest.

Some winemakers determine whether to use hand-picker workers or mechanical harvest machinery. Some benefits of hand picking the grapes are:

Grapes are handled gently
The hand picked grapes are carefully laid out so that they arrive at the press intact
Hand picking means you care and care is what matters…

Winemaking process red wine

Wine making is a natural process that requires human intervention, but each winery guides the process though different techniques. In basic, there are five components of the wine making process:

Harvesting, Crushing and Pressing, Fermentation, Clarification, Aging and Bottling

After the grapes are sorted they are ready to be de-stemmed and crushed. Mechanical presses the grapes into must. Must is a freshly juice that contains the skins, seeds and solids.

After crushing and pressing the fermentation begins. The fermentation continues until the sugar is converted into alcohol and carbon dioxide CO2.

Grape skins and solids float to the top and need to be pushed back. The red wine juice is pomped from the bottom and splashed over the top of the grape cap.

When the fermentation has finished it is the time to clarify the wine. Filtration occurs by a filter. The clarified wine is ready for further aging in stainless steel, oak barrels or in bottels.

Poggio alla Sala

A group of workers at the vineyards of Poggio alla Sala picked the grapes with secateurs and put them in a basket. Then the grapes are put in a container and finally transported to the winery to be processed.

The most planted grape at Poggio alla Sala is the Sangiovese grape. Poggio alla Sala is exposured in the southern part of Montepulciano. Some Etruscan objects are found here.

If you want gorgeous views as well as a good glass of wine than head to Poggio alla Sala. From here you see the Monte Amiata which influences the local climate of the lands and the vineyards.

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