Farm experiences

New Year's Eve in a country inn with a Brunello experience

Wine experiences, especially with Brunello, that are fun and enrich your knowledge, these together with the traditional food make a holiday memorable

At Fattoria del Colle stays over the New Year period are dedicated to couples, groups of friends and families, even the extended ones with cats and dogs. Every day there are at least two activities to enter into the fascinating world of great wines and Tuscan in harmony with the countryside and the estate, going back in time.

Three day stays (two nights) where great wines will be protagonists of the wine lover’s experiences: itinerant tastings with music and history, Brunello vertical tastings, winery tours, tasting dinners and even the possibility of making your own Supertuscan wine. The kids can play panforte and also learn how to make it. Those who adore wellness can discover the pleasure of drinking a glass of wine whilst soaking in the Jacuzzi or in the juniper tub while enjoying vinotherapy, wine can reach your skin even through massages.

The country inn stay is full of extraordinary experiences that are also fun, with a rich program of events particularly enjoyable for “Brunello lovers”, those who admire this great wine from Montalcino, or who hope to become estimators. For these guests we have three real treats and a particular surprise.

Toscana Lovers the boutiques for artistic handicraft

From “Toscana lovers” in Siena and in Bagno Vignoni your shopping becomes a treasure hunt rich in traditional and artistically handmade surprises [caption id="attachment_11667" align="alignleft" width="203"] toscana-lovers-tuscan-handcrafts-boutique[/caption] These typical local objects of Tuscan handicraft and life style are created with a certain dexterity that renews tradition. With our usual courtesy and competence we will help you discover the typical character and the history of Tuscan and Italian handicraft. An old story, refined and full of creative characters. If you want to take home some of Tuscany take it from the hand of our artisans and look for something exclusive that cannot be found...

In Casato Prime Donne winery Turchi's dove flies

In the new vats room of Casato Prime Donne flies the dove by the painter Roberto Turchi, wine expert, innkeeper, interior designer and 100% “montalcinese

Every year the fist Italian winery with an all female staff celebrates the winner of the Casato Prime Donne Award with an art piece. Sculptures, photographs, and also intangible artistic installations come to life in the winery and among Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s vineyards, who since this year is also the president of the Award and of Donne del Vino association.
Roberto Turchi work of art “The Dove’s Flight” is a performance of digital images that transforms the new vats room in an art space (with the collaboration of Giuseppe Sanfilippo, Tommaso di Ronato, MCM Service)
The 2016 winner Chaimaa Fatihi, peace activist, has written a dedication that has been placed at the entrance of the vat room <<To all the women in the world, who know how to be strong and never give up in the face of fears, prejudices, hatred and violence>>. Inside, among the new bare concrete vats, just arrived from France, flies Roberto Turchi’s dove, a symbol of peace but also of the Award and of the cellar that finances it. “The Dove’s Flight” the flight of the dove that is the protagonist of the painted history that a sophisticated technological system projects on the conical vats,

wine-making gems surmounted by steel fullers.
Roberto Turchi painter, wine expert, innkeeper, interior designer of an absolute and visceral identity of Montalcino territory created something dynamic and engaging that, for 3 minutes, takes visitors into the world where painted and real images, colors and sounds, emotions, and lightness mix together. An experience of Montalcino that no one had ever done before. Extremely intense colours juxtaposed, Turchi’s distinctive strokes of a very personal and contemporary poetic which nevertheless sink its roots in Sassetta and Sano di Pietro Sienese XIV century. The Montalcino images break down into a cubist and at times metaphysical game and later becoming a tale with a remarkable evocative strength.

Urban Trekking for All Saints’ weekend, do it in Tuscany

Step after step discover the beauty in and around you: urban trekking in Siena and Asciano, sleeping at Fattoria del Colle October 28^th to November 1st

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini

We will be waiting for you in the most beautiful countryside in Tuscany for this long bank holiday weekend. Urban trekking in Siena and Asciano  is an experience that you will adore: there are so many incredible surprises for you, such as the first work by Raffaello. At Fattoria del Colle there is a program (on our web site with prices) including tastings, visit, brief cookery lessons, and dinners that you will not find anywhere else

URBAN TREKKING

I created urban trekking in 2002 when I was tourist advisor for Siena and now there are walking trails in every city of art and even urban trekking shoes-

This is a success because it coincides with thy ways people prefer travelling now: no longer in the great masses and those roads where there are only stores for tourists, they prefer to be in contact with those who live in an area. It is the same trend as choosing to sleep I private homes rather than hotels. In other words I anticipated times!

The National urban trekking day 2016 is October 31st, the eve before all saints day. Among the 51 participating cities I have chosen the two closest (Asciano e Siena) to Fattoria del Colle to invite you to come for a walk with me, maybe using my country inn as a base.

Urban trekking is a healthy type of tourism because it tones the muscles and regenerates the mind by letting you discover places and stories that otherwise would remain hidden; our cities are real open air museums and the urban trekking reveals the art work like in a treasure hunt. Everybody can participate, of any age, becoming explorers, and this time there are really many discoveries.

White Truffle with Red Wine: yes right, Brunello with truffles

Weekend with the White Truffle from the Crete Senesi at Fattoria del Colle for a very intense and tasty wine and truffle experience

4-6 / 11-13 / 18-20 November with the white truffle in Tuscany in the Crete Senesi area, a truffle region of very high level. Fattoria del Colle organizes weekends that include for you white truffles and the great red wines Brunello and Orcia DOC. During the same period in San Giovanni d’Asso (15 km away) there is a white truffle from the Crete Senesi fair. So plenty of shopping and hunting for the precious truffle in one of the 5 truffle preserves at Fattoria del Colle, themed dinners with truffle recipes, and even a brief lesson regarding the fungus. To make these weekends unforgettable there will also be some splendid wine tastings. And here are our two treats for this programme, that can give sensations and information to real gourmands and to the less expert, these are experiences in the Brunello winery, Casato Prime Donne: the wine and music tasting created by the musician and sommelier Igor Vazzaz with 4 wines and 4 different pieces of music and the brand new fermentation area for the Brunello wine where a flying dove helps visitor enter into the true Montalcino spirit with images and sounds. A beautiful surprise.

The detailed program in on the web site.

3 day –two nights  € 214 per person. It is possible to book briefer stays through the reception +39 0577 662108

WHY WHTE TRUFFLE AND RED WINE

Last year I was nominated Cavaliere Onorario dell’Ordine del Tartufo e dei vini di Alba. During the ceremony I asked the Gran Maestro Bianca Vetrino << what do you drink with your truffles?>>  and she replied convinced << red wine>>. This reply made me think … matching white ruffles from the Crete Senesi with Brunello and Doc Orcia works just as well as the pairings in Piedmont in fact it must be studied.. maybe through a weekend full of excellent delicacies. Our white truffle is “honeyed” exquisitely refined; it has an intense aroma and is definitely intriguing (it is not a coincidence that it is aphrodisiacal) . It has become so acclaimed only recently, for this reason it is still quite affordable.

Wine tours, the winery, and strange questions

Tour after tour, year after year, the questions asked by visitors have been many, and some, sometimes …quite strange!

By Sara Mazzeschi – Fattoria del Colle

One of the fun aspects of my job at Fattoria del Colle is the time I spend with guests visiting the estate. Be it here or at Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino it is really nice to show experts or wine lovers where we produce and age the Chianti, Doc Orcia and Brunello.

I have always thought that telling people what is “behind”  a bottle of wine, the challenges, the decisions and everything else that brings to a quality wine , to be the most important aspect of my job, that is why I am always happy to see the curious expressions of those following me and to hear their questions. It must be said though that there is no limit to what I have been asked,  every time I think that I have heard the best then a young bright lad or a professor lifts his glasses to look at me all the better… and I remain speechless.

Toscana Lovers 2 and Donatella Cinelli Colombini repeats

Toscana Lovers a boutique where you find the best artisan products opens a new store in Bagno Vignoni, the most exclusive spa centre in Italia

It is in the heart of the most beautiful part of Tuscany, where one finds the only medieval spa centre that is still intact, in this minute hamlet near the war water pool where Santa Caterina and Lorenzo il Magnifico bathed: Bagno Vignoni. This is where  Donatella Cinelli Colombini is opening her second store ”Toscana Lovers” dedicated to the best Tuscan handicraft. After the success of her other Siena shop, just round the corner from Piazza del Campo where the Palio race is run, now a second boutique for handmade Tuscan objects.

Her you find knives from Scarperia, the sharp blades famous since the 8th century and made by the master knife make. The Virginia pottery, with its shabby chic style and where every day utensils are reinvented. Then the chopping boards and the tureens made in olive wood loved by northern tourists where these trees can’t grow. Soap bars decorated with bronze stamps and perfuse with natural essences from Tuscany such as the iris, symbol of Florence. Scarves by Cecchi & Cecchi and many objects in resin that trap for ever leaves and flowers. Of course wines too – Brunello, Chianti and Orcia- from the family estates Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino and Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda.

Easter in Tuscany with children, grandparents and dogs

Easter in Tuscany with kids, grandparents and dogs so as to rediscover the sacredness and the food traditions of this celebration with the addition of great wines and wellness

Fattoria del Colle is 12 km from the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore and 40 km from the abbey of Sant’Antimo in Montalcino, and 100 km from Assisi. Those wishing to experience a spiritual Easter holiday will have close by the right places.

For those wishing to have a holiday with the family and is thinking about spending time with the kids, grandparents and pets, we propose a program with daily fun activities.

This includes a tour of the Brunello winery called Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino, with an itinerant wine tasting; an absolute novelty crated by Igor Vazzaz a musician sommelier. At Fattoria del Colle the adventure continues with the guided tour of the historical halls of the estate where the owner Donatella Cinelli Colombini lives and, a visit to the winery where the Chianti and Orcia wines are made. A tour full of curiosities that will bring back memories for grandparents and will teach children lots of things about Tuscan history. There will be then two wine tastings not –to-be-missed: a vertical tasting of Brunello and a game at playing wine maker for a day creating your own dream wine.

Why getting married at Fattoria del Colle is best

We have organized weddings for world champions, film producers, and people from high finance coming from 16 different nations … and they all said that <<getting married at Colle is the best>>

By Sara Mazzeschi, Fattoria del Colle

This is because at the table there is Brunello with other wines that receive International prizes, because the cutting of the cake takes place in the woods with lighting by the set designer of “4 weddings and a funeral”, because the honeymoon is spent in the bedroom that once belonged to the Grand Duke of Tuscany, because the panoramas are the most beautiful in the world and because Fattoria del Colle is an authentic place, with more than 400 years of noble history and a wedding needs a true frame , true like the love that united the bride and groom.

I have been to many ceremonies all over Italy but I must say that getting married in Tuscany is unbeatable. In fact, with figures in hand, it is the most sought after destination, villas, castles and farmhouses are all possible locations, and they are springing up like mushrooms. Fattoria del Colle, in South of Siena, where I organize weddings, has in the past seen dozens of couples ask for perfection for their Day and never has this magic place disappointed them. Buy why choose it? Why is getting married here best?

Our unbeatable Wine Tours

A perfect blend of excellent wines, art and captivating activities: these are the wine tours at Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda and Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino

By Alice Bracciali, Fattoria del Colle

Our key words are authenticity and excellence.  Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s ancestors were already owners of Fattoria del Colle and Casato Prime Donne at the end of the 16th century; these are today open to the public for guided tastings and wine tours.

Our proposals give one the possibility of tasting wines that win International awards and the possibility of learning family history and stories together with other small wine making secrets: during the itinerant tastings in fact you will be guided to discover the most hidden corners of these two historical estates. Among the tours, some of which are very suggestive and fascinating, such as “Let’s play winemaker” and the “Wine and Music tasting”, which are absolute novelties and enrich our portfolio of activities in a curious and captivating way.

Copate: typical Sienese torrone

This is one of the least known traditional Sienese Christmas cakes, it is delicious and among the most expensive, best enjoyed with a glass of Vinsanto

 

The origin of this cake is uncertain, as is the origin of its name. The word “copata” should derive from Latin “copatus” which in this case, would take on the meaning coupled, to indicate that the mixture is enclosed among two hosts, but it is also possible that it might come from the Arab “qubbaita”, which means “almond cake”, and this would prove that its story begins very far away.