See, Feel, Taste Val d’Orcia
“See, feel and taste the Val d’Orcia” beautiful book by Anastasia Kellermann, American-Dutch debut writer with a Tuscan heart
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By Donatella Cinelli Colombini
Presented at the Pieve di Vitaleta between Pienza and San Quirico d’Orcia, the book by Anastasia Kellermann takes us into her “Tuscan dream” made of flavours and people, fairy-tale places and breath-taking sunsets in what seems to be a land blessed by God for its mysterious harmony between excellence and simplicity, nature and art, lifestyle and work.
VAL D’ORCIA SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF A DUTCH AMERICAN WITH A TUSCAN HEART
The following is the preface I wrote for the book “See Feel Taste Val d’Orcia” and reflects the importance and novelty of this beautiful book of exciting photos and texts.
WHY IT IS DIFFICULT TO WRITE NEW THINGS ABOUT VAL D’ORCIA AND HOW ANASTASIA SUCCEEDED
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Val d’Orcia is one of the most talked about agricultural territories and certainly the most photographed in the world. We find the cypress forest of San Quirico, the chapel of Vitaleta and the road to the Foce di Pienza in every calendar, in every advertisement about Tuscany. They are not the only jewels of this part of Tuscany where beauty seems to dominate every panorama. In fact, there are small extraordinary cities of art such as Pienza or Bagno Vignoni but it is the perfect harmony of the agricultural landscape, built by the work of man over the centuries, which has made the Val d’Orcia obtain the inscription as a World Heritage Site of UNESCO in 2004. The vineyards and farmhouses where the wineries have been created are also part of this beautiful countryside. For this reason the DOC Orcia wine, which is produced in the Val d’Orcia and in the surrounding areas, is called << the most beautiful wine in the world >>.
THE FIRST BOOK ON DOC ORCIA AND ITS TERRITORY
However, no one had ever written a book on the Orcia denomination and its land of origin trying to describe the very close bond that binds them. The Orcia is in fact the liquid postcard of the hills where it is born. It tells the story of the Via Francigena where armies and merchants, pilgrims, poets, kings and beggars have passed. A flow of culture and wealth that gave birth to the cities: Buonconvento, Torrenieri, San Quirico…. Then the misery of more recent centuries and the abandonment of the countryside in the mid-twentieth century until the rebirth thanks to tourism and the enhancement of agricultural excellence: wine, oil, truffles, aglione, saffron, ancient grains…. But it is the wine, the noblest and most versatile fruit of the earth that best describes the uniqueness of this land. Anastasia Kellermann has the great merit of having made this attempt, for first and with infinite enthusiasm. Here the denomination born in 2000 in the middle of the territories of Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has found its spokesperson. A passionate person who will help Orcia wines to enter the memory and heart of those who visit its wonderful land of origin.