Forum: News and lifestyle

by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

THE VINEYARD’S DIET

Does the vineyard have “nutritional disorders” such as anorexia or bulimia? No, but it does have something similar and an Australian app helps grape growers keep it healthy

Vineyard’s nutrition – Montalcino – Casato Prime Donne

I heard talk about the “humanized” approach for the first time in the Bordeaux University, about twenty years ago, when the lesson regarding the summer pruning of the vine referred to “the vine sexuality”. In fact it did regard the intervention of man on the equilibrium between the grape grower’s project, who wants to produce grapes for wine, and that of the vine, who wants to reproduce itself.

THE AUSTRALIAN APPROACH TO THE VINEYARDS NUTRITION THROUGH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Suzy Rogiers – Vineyards nutrition and artificial intelligence

In this case the Wine Australia and the Charles Sturt University have gone even further and have forced the National Wine and Grape Industry Center (NWGIC) researchers to create an app for Smartphone to manage the vineyard’s nutritional disorders as if it were a human being. What is curious is that for both man and the vineyard the nutritional problems come from the wrong approach by “parents”. It seems a paradox but the Australian method to the managing of the vineyard helps us to rethink, in a more general way, all of our behaviours, in life like in the wine enterprises. Often grape growers in fact over feed their vines and they mistake the vigour for wellbeing of the plants, just like some mums fill their kids with love by piling their plate until they get obese.

11 August 2020

in Farm experiences, Forum: News and lifestyle

by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Fruit salad with Grappa di Brunello

Fruit salad or macedoine is tastier with the addition of dry fruit and grappa. With Grappa di Brunello it is just wonderful!

Fruit Salad with Grappa di Brunello

As in everything else it is the quality of the ingredients that makes the difference, if courage and creativity are added too. The fruit salad that everybody calls macedoine is an easy dessert that can conclude with style a meal if well ripe mixed fruit is used, with lots of lemon and some sugar.

FRUIT SALAD WITH GRAPPA DI BRUNELLO

If you wish to obtain something really super, then an addition of pine nuts, raisins, nuts and dried apricots, a generous shot of grappa and some whipped cream or artisan ice cream. It is worthy reflecting on these two last ingredients. To use a fine estate grappa from the Brunello lees from Casato Prime Donne and distilled by Marolo in Piedmont makes all the difference.
If the cream is made with excellent raw products and whipped at the last moment at home, or if the ice cream is Italian gelato….not cream that we used during covid lockdown (at least Silvia found some of that though!) … then you will have a n extraordinary final dessert for your meal.

17 June 2020

Summer weekend among the Tuscan vineyards

Two nights and two dinners at Fattoria del Colle in the most authentic part of Tuscany where there are wide spaces and every detail is studied to give safety and emotions

Fattoria del Colle summer weekends in Tuscany

Come and spend a weekend in the most beautiful countryside on a real four hundred year old farm. Among the vineyards, olive groves and breathtaking views Fattoria del Colle proposes stays in rooms with private bathrooms and in apartments with outdoor private areas equipped for eating out-of-doors. Carefully sanitized inside and out so as to guarantee the safety of the guests. However to avoid possible contamination, daily cleaning is still not supplied, just the delivery of clean linen.

REGENERATE OUT IN THE OPEN, TOURS WITH TASTINGS AND THEMED DINNERS

3 equipped parks where to sunbathe, admire the panorama and enjoy the quiet of the countryside, 1 swimming pool, 3 signposted hiking trails, where one discovers nature, a special trail dedicated to the vine.

15 June 2020

in Forum: News and lifestyle, Vines and wines

DOC ORCIA BIO LEONE ROSSO 2018

The first organic DOC Orcia Bio wine made by Donatella Cinelli Colombini is the Leone Rosso 2018, practically a Supertuscan made with Sangiovese and Merlot

Orcia DOC 2018 Leone Rosso Fattoria del Colle Donatella Cinelli Colombini

A RAMPANT LION AND DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI’S ANCESTORS

The name of the wine and the rampant lion on the label come from Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s ancestors’ coat of arms. This family in 1592 built Fattoria del Colle where this wine is born. This was an old and rich Tuscan family, mostly jurists and philosophers; they were then called Socini or Sozzini. The names of two Socinis, Lelio (1525-1562) and Fausto (1539-1604) are written in philosophy books as they were free thinkers and against the Church and, because of their writings regarding the Trinity dogma. Unfortunately their creed made them famous but also made them poor because they ended up being excommunicated and all their properties confiscated. Fattoria del Colle became once again property of this family only in 1919 when it was bought by Donatella’s grandfather Livio Socini.
Still today the family blazon, the rampant lion, is visible upon the entrances and on the ceilings of the Colle villa.

12 May 2020

in Forum: News and lifestyle, Vines and wines

2 magnums of Brunello Riserva, 2012 and 2013

Two great vintages of Brunello in the Riserva version and in Magnum bottles in a wooden box delivered directly to your home for your parties and important dinners

All Brunello is able to last in bottle for many years; the Riserva version is born for very long cellaring. Donatella Cinelli Colombini produces Brunello Riserva only in the best vintages, choosing by hand a small quantity of absolutely perfect Sangiovese grapes. For this reason Brunello Riserva has only been made 10 times in 13 years.
Always small quantities, for each vintage about 6.000 regular bottles and 100 magnums get produced.
The Magnum size 1,5 lt is the size where the wine is preserved best. If you are a wine lover and you want to surprise your friends with two exceptional Brunello, do not miss out on the possibility of buying these magnums of Brunello Riserva 2012 and 2013.
They will arrive in wooden boxes, directly on your doorstep together with a vacuum wine saver. This will help you store the bottle and be able to enjoy the wine, within the next few days.

OFFER- BRUNELLO RISERVA 2012 AND 2013 MAGNUM IN WOODEN BOX

Receive directly at home in A WOODEN BOX AND WITH A VACUUM WINE SAVER

Brunello riserva 2012-2013 Casato Prime Donne Montalcino

FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

Special price 248 Euro (instead of 310) up until May 19th 2020

We offer free shipping in Italy and a 10€ discount on shipping abroad.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT YET CLUB MEMBERS

Special price 265 Euro (instead of 310) up until May 19th 2020

To this price the shipping cost must be added, for Italy 18,00€ while abroad the cost varies from nation to nation and will be quoted upon acceptance of the order.

PAYMENT via bank draft or credit card (VISA or MasterCard)

TO BOOK THE TWO MAGNUMS OF BRUNELLO RISERVA

Send an email to vino@cinellicolombini.it

This offer will conclude May 19^th 2020

27 April 2020

in Forum: News and lifestyle, Vines and wines

Organic Chianti superiore 2018 from Fattoria del Colle

This is the first organic Chianti Superiore made at Fattoria del Colle. It is enriched with aromas thanks to the cold nights and hot days in September.

CHIANTI SUPERIORE 2018 FROM FATTORIA DEL COLLE

Chianti Superiore 2018 is a family wine, hence a wine that is born in Fattoria del Colle, that was founded in 1592 by Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s ancestors. This estate has a history more than 400 year old, in the vineyard and in the wines.

Chianti Superiore Bio 2018

This region in Southern Tuscany, at 404 m above sea level, in a territory particularly apt for the production of red wines. It borders with the Chianti Classico, Brunello and Vino Nobile wine regions. The soils are of neo-quaternary origin composed of sand and marine clays. These vineyards were planted on the top of the hills, because well ventilated and well exposed to the sun.

The 2018 vintage was a scarce one because of the frost during the previous year and because of the rainfalls that during the spring disturbed the flowering. In the month of May the showers were particularly frequent and there was also a cloudburst that flooded the winery.

Luckily in September the climate was ideal for the production of great wines, with its cold nights and sunny days, so the grapes size was reduced, and as a result increased the synthesis of the perfumes of the grapes and finally in the cellar we received sound and ripe clusters with a good content of extractable polyphenols

2018 harvest at Fattoria del Colle

The Chianti Superiore is a type of Chianti of higher level, because of the quality of the wine and because of the provenance of the grapes from vineyards that do not produce much.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CHIANTI SUPERIORE DOCG 2018

Type: dry red.
Production area: Trequanda, Toscana, Fattoria del Colle.
Vintage characteristics: the spring was very rainy; the summer was cool with frequent storms. The veraison concluded within the month of August. September was dry with great diurnal temperature variation.

1 April 2020

in Forum: News and lifestyle, Not only wine...

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Corolli di Montalcino for Lent

To call them Lent Pastries is exaggerated, these Corolli from the Montalcino tradition are soft buns with little taste

Lent Corollo di Montalcino recipe

In Montalcino, long ago, it was possible to buy these only during the 40 days Easter. Only bakeries sold them, and with their vans they delivered all over the countryside. Even further back the farmer’s wives would bake them in the wood fire, placing them in the oven after everything else had been cooked, so the temperature was much lower.

The Corolli are doughnut shaped buns to be dunked in milk at breakfast timer. They are not very sweet so I always thought that they were “repentance” quite the opposite of the tasty cakes and desserts for carnival time or the rich Ricciarelli and Panforte for Christmas time.

Continue reading

27 March 2020

#ledonnedelvinoconvoi and Project Ganbei

Project Gambei from friends of italian wine in China to Italian hospitals. #ledonnedelinoconvoi , virtual wine tourism for winelovers imprisoned home.

Project Ganbei

Virtual wine tourism to travel with imagination waiting to be able to really do it. This is what the 900 Donne del Vino (Women of Wine) from all the Italian regions who are flooding the internet with images of their wineries and vineyards propose. Many videos of less than a minute, connected by the hashtag ledonnedelvinoconvoi who want to encourage those who are locked in their homes during the coronavirus epidemic.
Videos that convey passion for their work but especially the courage of women with a fighting spirit who are not willing to bend to the difficulties created by the epidemic. Testimonies, real, direct, of everyday life, made in a craft way by the same protagonists who speak in first person and perhaps, for this, emotional.

#LEDONNEDELVINOCONVOI VIDEOS TO MAKE VIRTUAL WINE TOURISM WHILE YOU ARE LOCKED IN THE HOUSE

Propose a virtual “escape” in the world of wine to winelovers who normally, with spring, arrived in the cellars, wine bars, restaurants with the intention of discovering great wines … And instead this year they have to stay home. A postponed appointment say the Women of Wine with confident look towards the future:”Do not give up and stay at home, we are with you and we are waiting for you soon!”

25 March 2020

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini

British, coronavirus and pubs

First the disbelief about the risks of the coronavirus coming to Britain and then the reaction of those who want to go to the pub like Boris Johnson’s father.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s first strategy was to let the virus circulate until it had a “herd immunity ” as advised by Chris Whitty, the government’s epidemiologist and medical adviser and Sir Patrick Vallance, the scientific advisor.

Principe Carlo a Firenze con Donatella Cinelli colombini

Donatella and Carlo at London Bridge

FROM HERD IMMUNITY TO BORIS JOHNSON’S ADVICE TO CONTAIN THE CORONAVIRUS

It foreshadowed an apocalyptic scenario with half a million dead. On 16 March, the UK Government took half a step backwards and gave some advice to avoid infection. But the reactions suggest that the coronavirus problem was largely underestimated.

A few hours after Premier Boris Johnson had recommended to the British the measures of “social distancing” his father Stanley had an exchange of views with Phillip Schofield during the television program “This Morning”. “Of course I’ll go to a pub if I have to go to a pub” said the Prime Minister’s father. And Schofield, between the embarrassed and the surprised, answered:” But your son just told you not to.” Johnson did not give up: ”He said we should avoid going to pubs, but if I had to go to a pub, I’d go to a pub” . At that point the other host came into the discussion:” Why would you go?” and he:” Well, because people who run pubs need customers, they don’t want the pub to be empty, this is my line”.

23 March 2020

Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2018 Bio directly on your doorstep

From the cellar of Montalcino, directly to your door a Rosso di Montalcino BIO preview. Special price for #iobevoacasa #iorestoacasa

Stay at home, we will deliver an extraordinary wine, our first Rosso di Montalcino organic. It’s a preview, for this, we ask you to make special the moment you bring it to the table. Take a picture and post it with the tags #donatellacinellicolombini #iobevoacasa #iorestoacasa. This will help us to become more united and stronger in this moment sharing a beautiful experience.

Rosso di Montalcino 2018 BIO di Donatella Cinelli Colombni #iobevoacasa #iostappoacasa

Rosso di Montalcino 2018 BIO di Donatella Cinelli Colombini #Idrinkathome #iobevoacasa #iostappoacasa

6 BOTTLES OF RED MONTALCINO 2018 BIO

You will receive a box of 6 bottles of 0.75 Cl directly at your front door. Now more than ever is the time to stay in our homes but without renouncing to the plesure of great wines to be enjoyed with the family, to bring to the table a sign of hope and love for life. Come on, everything will be fine!
Offer valid until 30 March 2020
Special price of € 97,00 (+ shipping in Italy of 16€) instead of € 108,00.
ONLY FOR DONATELLA CLUB MEMBERS Free shipping in Italy and discount of € 10.00 on transport costs abroad
Payment by bank transfer or credit card Visa or Mastercard
To order wine, write an email to vino@cinellicolombini.it or call 0039 0577 662108

I PRESENT YOU ROSSO DI MONTALCINO DOC 2018 BIO

Rosso di Montalcino 2018 BIO di Donatella Cinelli Colombini #iostappoacasa

Rosso di Montalcino 2018 BIO di Donatella Cinelli Colombini #Idrinkathome #iostappoacasa

Produced entirely with Sangiovese grapes from the same vineyards with wich Brunello is produced, in the territory of Montalcino, considered the best in the world for the cultivation of this historic grape.
We love our land and that is why from 2018 all our wines will have on their label the BIO ( organic) symbol of the green leaf, synonymous of attention and respect for nature!

THE WINERY CASATO PRIME DONNE IN MONTALCINO

Rosso di Montalcino is a family wine produced by Casato Prime Donne, which for over 400 years belonged to the family of Donatella Cinelli Colombini. The winery is the first in Italy with an only female staff and currently employes 3 enologists, the senior, Barbara and two young ones, Sabrina and Giada. This shows a huge commitment in achieving ever higher quality. In addition, there is the project to bring Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino back to their original characteristics from 1970-1980: elegance, freshness and drinkability.
This is a young but important wine, which often scores over 90/100 by the wine critics of the leading foreign specialized press.

LET’S TASTE TOGETHER ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2018

Rosso di Montalcino 2018 Cinelli Colombini

Rosso di Montalcino 2018 is a small masterpiece able to excite those who drink it: rich in intriguing scents such as cherry, raspberries with floral notes of violet. It is a harmonious wine with silky tannins, well balanced with a nice structure thanks to the months of aging in French oak.

20 March 2020

Minerality in wine: between terroir and marketing abuse

Minerality is a correct concept to describe the wine of certain terroir and becomes pure marketing elsewhere. But do we really need to understand its origin?

Mineralità del vino Riesling della Mosella

Minerality in riesling wines from Mosel

Leone Zot wrote a wonderful post for Intravino on minerality in wine. The beginning is very technical with the explanation of how the brain processes what the senses perceive.

18 March 2020

Cardi rifatti(thistles) ancient Tuscan recipe

Tuscany is known for its long cooking recipes that in the peasant tradition become a triumph of flavor and sauces. The recooked thistles are the best. Cardi rifatti for you

ingredienti: cardi, uova, pomodoro, farina, sale, olio, aglio

Thistles eggs tomatoes flour salt oil garlic

Some vegetables are cooked three times: boiled, fried and recooked in tomato. In the end, even cauliflower, which is normally not very tasty, becomes a king’s treat.
In Montalcino, one of the most delicious recipes is made with the same three cooking and traditionally solemn lunch of August: rooster stewed with recooked celery .
Here I describe a winter version based on thistles that brings to the table the intense taste of the Tuscan tradition and can be served as a side dish of a roast or alone.

13 March 2020

WALTER MASSA USES TALKING CLOSURES

A cork that talks about the wine and guarantees the consumer that there is no counterfeiting. It is called Guala and they wines by Walter Massa are the first to use it in Europe

Walter Massa closures that talk about the wine and certify the bottle

Walter Massa is a brave and genial wine maker who brought Timorasso back to life in the 70’s. Bringing success to his winery and to a whole region, the Colli Tortonesi, a small corner of land in Piedmont squeezed between Monferrato and Oltrepò.

WALTER MASSA, FATHER OF THE TIMORASSO, AND HIS NEW CHALLENGE

Now Massa launches a new adventure: the 2018 vintage of his wines will have a Guala screw top closure with NFC technologies- Thanks to these closures the consumers of Derthona Costa del Vento, Derthona Montecitorio and Derthona Sterpi will receive on their mobile information regarding the vineyards, the grapes and the production system of each bottle together with tasting notes and the opinions of wine critics.

The Guala screw top is a “high technology” closure that certifies also the authenticity of the wine thanks to the block chain system that connects the identification code of each bottle to a platform where it gets verified.

the first aluminum smart NFC closure for wine

Guala Closures: winner of the Worldstar Award for e-WAK

GUALA THE SCREW TOP CLOSURE THAT TALKS ABOUT THE WINE AND GUARANTEES FOR IT

The Guala Closures Group has supplied this revolutionary closure to wineries such as Seppeltsfield in the Barossa Valley and to the Californian Böen as well as to the spirit in the UK, William Grant & Sons.

A very courageous step by Walter Massa of this screw cap together with the virtual storytelling that is much appreciated by the consumers. Buyers desire more and more to connect the experience in the glass to a story that charms and enriches with knowledge.

11 March 2020

in Farm experiences, Forum: News and lifestyle

Donatella Cinelli Colombini remembers Federico Fellini

Three little personal episodes that portray Federico Fellini. The man, his need for simplicity, his free and eccentric his great kindness

Federico Fellini with
his wife and the Guidotti and Cinelli Colombini families