Food and Drink
   

Tuscan valleys have a long wine-producing history. Among the most famous wines is the Vino Nobile and the Rosso di Montepulciano, but especially the Brunello di Montalcino, which is one of the most famous in the entire world.

 
 
Foto: Cristiano De Scisciolo (www.cdsweb.it)
 

Brunello di Montalcino

 
   

The Brunello wine is born in one of the most beautiful and famous sceneries in the world: hills, cypresses, brown land alternated with green vines. The history of Brunello counts about 150 years, the beginning of it was put by Ferruccio Biondi Santi.
The prestigious American magazine Wine Spectator (www.winespectator.com) rated the Brunello di Montalcino produced by Casanova di Neri top of all wines throughout the world last year (www.casanovadineri.com). Made with grapes from the Sangiovese vines, called Brunello, production of this wine is limited (solely in the Montalcino area). This wine has an intense, ruby-red colour, usually a garnet-red, having matured for a compulsory period of four years – five years for the reserve. The Brunello di Montalcino Consortium was founded in 1967. It safeguards and maintains the value of denomination of origin wines of Montalcino. Amongst the producers, we make note of Castello Banfi, Colombini, Lisini and Il Marroneto.

 
   

Nobile di Montepulciano

 
   
The Nobile would not merit this adjectie without Montepulciano, and vice versa (of course). The agricultural business Contucci spread out over 170 hectares; of which 21 hectares are cultivated with grape vines (15 of which are written into the Register of Nobile), while the other hectares are used to produce the Rosso di Montepulciano, Bianco della Contessa, the Sansovino, and Vin Santo. No less important for the production of Nobile di Montepulciano are Crociani, Gattavecchi and Poliziano. In Palazzo Ricci, one of the most beautiful Renaissance palaces in Montepulciano, is situated The Cantina del Redi.
 
   

Orcia Wine

 
   
This new wine from Val d’Orcia was born from the experience obtained in a territory that produces wine unable to be compared to others of the world. The DOC Orcia wine is produced in four different types: the red and novello wine from Sangiovese grapes, the white and vin santo wines from Tuscan trebbiano grapes. Among the producers, we make note of Simonelli Santi.
 
   

Gastronomy

  
   
The cooking of Siena has always been known for the high-quality of its ingredients; from the extra-virgin olive oil, an essential element at the table, to the Chianina, a type of beef which offers a particularly tasty steak. Some of the specialties of this area include: the pici (long pasta made by hand), the ribollita (a sort of bean-bread soup with lots of vegetables), mixed roasts, fowl, wild boar, and the excellent cold-cuts and cheeses, like the famous sheep-milk cheese of Pienza. Recently the tasty Cinta Senese has become famous. Amongst the desserts, you must try the cantucci cookies after a meal, paired with a nice glass of vin santo. Vin santo is an ancient, amber-colored wine, which is famous in the wine-history of Italy.