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Chianti, Toscana, Sangiovese, Barolo, Rosso

These are the 5 words most associated with Italian wines in USA. What is evident is the presence of Tuscany and Chianti

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By Donatella Cinelli Colombini, agriturismo, Fattoria del Colle

This news comes from the report by “Wine Opinions Vinitaly Survey” and has been commented on excellently by Wine Meridian. In decreasing order there is a first group of words which includes Chianti, Toscana, Sangiovese, Barolo, Rosso and Dry followed by a second list of terms, that regard mostly the sensations that come from wine: Earthy , Prosecco, Food, Fruity , Robust, Diversity .

Here is first thought on the word Chianti that demonstrates how the effort to communicate Classico, selezione, superiore …. Has only been successful with those who work in wine while the public still gets confused … like when we say Bordeaux

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and put all together the Premier Cru and the vin de pays, Margaux and the les Graves.

That there is this difference between the perception of wine lover and the general public is evident from the comparison of this list and the most frequent appellations written about by the International press shown by Regione Toscana at the inauguration of the Anteprime 2017.  Brunello was on top of the list before Chianti and Chianti Classico. While in the “Wine Opinion Vinitaly Survey” the prestigious red wine form Montalcino is stationed in a very peripheral position.

Vinitaly's story, where we too have a part

50 years of Vintaly told in a book. People, events, where I, like other producers have participated. A surprising story

Vinitaly 2016 and Donne del vino

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini Toscana, Montalcino, Casato Prime Donne winery

Did you know that Vintaly was born in Siena? It was called “Mostra mercato dei vini tipici” and took place in the Fortezza Medicea in Siena since 1933. It was the first step towards the appellations approved in 1963 and created three years later.

The wines were presented in a gazebo that every region built separately as if it were a small expo. The event lasted one month and attracted more than 100,000 visitors.

In 1967 Verona takes on the project of creating a wine event inside the Agricultural Fair space. This was already being organized since 1898. The creative genius is Angelo Betti, a volcanic man, from Emilia Romagna who launches the “Giornate del vino italiano” two days of meetings in the Palazzo della Gran Guardia in front of the Arena.

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The name Vinitaly comes in 1971 with the move to empty buildings outside the historical centre. It is only mid-seventies that the mayor of Verona initiates the construction of the pavilions used today. These are the number 8 and 9 still used today, very small and simple compared to the present day sizes. Vinitaly used to take place at the beginning of December and had more than 500 exhibitors. The change of date to April happens in 1980 when the event used to last 8 days.

To produce fine wines you must be single

Long hours, especially at harvest time, stress and hard work are the disadvantages for lady wine makers but there can also be problems with partners for both genders

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini, agriturismo, Toscana, Fattoria del Colle

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An article on Wine Searcher regarding sexism makes clear the problematic of conciliating careers and professional ambitions with a normal life as a couple. The problem exists for both men and women wine makers but the latter to face enormous difficulties.

Certainly 30 years ago it was worse: suppliers gave “girly” calendars, and any women who progressed in this career got comment such as  <<she must have gone to bed with the boss>> but still today women’s wages are less than their male colleagues. <<There is a boy’s club feel in many wineries, and hiring women changes that>> says Eileen Crane with reference to those exclusively male contexts where one talks of football or about women together with the malolactic fermentation or autochthonous yeasts.

Wine and horses

Wine and horses, a magical combination: Incisa della Rocchetta, Sassicaia and the horse called Ribot, Gianfranco Fino, Es and Bruno the horse that works in his vineyards

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By Donatella Cinelli Colombini, agriturismo in Toscana, Fattoria del Colle

Wine and horses together create a certain charm. The most famous are Marchesi Incisa della Rocchetta who, other than  Sassicaia are also owners of Ribot  “The best horse of the century” as the International press labelled him after his victory at Ascot in front of 100.000 spectators , all left speechless  because of his powerfulness . Still today visitors of the famous Tenuta San Guido in Bolgheri see the thoroughbreds race on the turf racing track in the midst of the vineyards. As it is possible to see Marchese Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta avidly reading his horseracing magazines.

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But this is not the only case of a thoroughbreds with many victories owned by wine producers, or of horses with wine names: Sangiovese, Merlot, Negramaro, Gutturnio without forgetting champions such as Bricco Uccellone. The tenuta Braida belonging to the late Giacomo Bologna has a long story of wine and horses. Luciana Rota, in a delightful article in “Il Sommelier” had fun looking for virtuous assonances.

Tignanello and Ornellaia are also names of horses that in the Eighties were victorious racers.

Among the families of wine producers that also rear racehorses there is also the Rocca Family who have this passion since 1880. They are Shiraz Roc and the  three year old United Roc that is reaping successes. Other families who rear horses and make wines are the  Pacelli’s with   Laura and Carla in the Cosenza hills.

Most expensive cocktails in the world

Is it worth spending 37.500€ for just one glass? Evidently there are those willing to pay, and these are the three most expensive cocktails in the world

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By Donatella Cinelli Colombini agriturismo, Toscana, Fattoria del Colle

The Drinks Business never ceases to surprise with articles that are really curious. This time it lists the most expensive cocktails in the world. The price depends upon the ingredients, that in certain cases are the crème de le crème, but the bill really is extortionate. This article talks about ten of them but I will mention just three, with the astronomic prices inviting you though to read the original article, which is full of irony.I thought that the first in the list was already very expensive, an original  Mai Tai costing 1.120 Euro proposed by Merchant Hotel in Belfast (five star hotel where in May a double room costs about 300€ per night).

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Expensive but all in all affordable if we consider that it contains Nephew Rum that costs 29.000 € per bottle and was used in the original recipe in 1944.This s the first mentioned in the list, but let’s see the three that make you faint when you get the bill. The focal point id luxury and exclusivity, the price is worth the stars that shine around the scene.

11.200 € The Winston from Club 23 in Melbourne need two days preparation and gets its name from the famous British statesman. In this case too one of the ingredients costs a lot: 1858 Croizet cognac, which costs 147.500 € per bottle.

New barrels for the Brunello 2016

February, the new barrels enter the winery and become the cribs for the future Brunello. Here explained the reasons for certain choices

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By Donatella Cinelli Colombini, winery, Tuscan agriturismo

February is the month where traditionally the future Brunello begins its barrel ageing. There are those who begin sooner, as suggested by the late Professor Yves Glories, the winemaker who taught the whole world how to interpret the polyphenolic ripening of the grapes. We were at the Bordeaux 2University, where he used to teach, at the end of January 2001, and I gave him a tasting of my most recent harvest, and was thorough told off because I had not yet but it into barrel.

The Montalcino tradition is that of putting wine into the wooden casks when it has finished the malolactic fermentation and the first decanting. For this reason consultant wine makers like our Valerie Lavigne, visit their wineries and taste the entire new production together with the internal wine technician, in our case Barbara Magnani.

It is a very careful and slow examination of every vat. Chemical analysis, vineyard maps, grape harvest diaries…but most of all the actual tasting, all of this conducts to the final decision regarding the destiny of every mass of wine.

Up until 50 years ago, Barbara’s office was the Fattoria del Colle office. It is a small room

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at the entrance of the 16^th century villa, and from which the wine aroma reaches the offices above. Barbara and Valerie sit one in front of the other each with their laptop in front of them. Both love technology, so no written sheets with tasting notes, all is digital.

Drunken animals: they like alcohol too

In some case drunken animals have eaten fruit or bamboo that has fermented but often they thieve alcohol and drink it and become really dangerous

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini, Brunello, Casato Prime Donne

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The Drinks Business tells us about 12 episodes of drunken animals, some are funny and some area really horrific for those involved.

There are some Canadian birds that get tipsy eating frozen and fermented berries. The authorities who act in the safeguard of animals have been forced to capture them and lock them up to get over the hangover and stopping them from flying dangerously

Francis Bacon is a Vietnamese pig who finds his way into the Conquering Hero pub in West Norwood to thieve pints of beer and other delicacies. Its owners Vicky and Ian Taylor-Ross noticed that he is sociable like a dog but he does have an extraordinary nose. What a shame to not use it for truffles! In Australia wild pigs thieve beer cans on a camping site. They break them with their teeth and drink the contents. The tourists’ comments are hilarious, with pigs running after cows, swimming in the river and then fortunately, falling soundly asleep. More than scared the campers seem to be angry because of the theft of the beer.

Then there is a squirrel that eats fermented apples and jumps o the snow without going straight. The video has gone viral and has been seen more than 5 million times.