fattoria del colle Tag

HAPPY EASTER

“TRY TO MAKE OTHERS HAPPY.” FOR EASTER LET’S JOIN ROBERTO BENIGNI IN URGING EVERYONE TO BE HAPPY AND TO GIVE HAPPINESS.

Montalcino- Sant’Antimo

In 2014, Roberto Benigni was the protagonist of a RAI program entitled Ten Commandments. One of his most famous speeches is the one on happiness, broadcast on December 1st.

The central line is this: “Make others happy. I said ‘happy’, not ‘better’. Don’t try to make others better. There’s only one person you should try to make better: yourself. You have to make others happy, and to make someone happy, you have to be happy yourself! Be happy, be happy, and become the adult you wish you had by your side when you were a child.”

According to Roberto Benigni, happiness is a gift and an achievement. All men and women are born happy, but if they don’t work on themselves to be better, they lose their happiness and, with it, the ability to make others happy.

A statement so simple it seems banal, but it’s actually profound and particularly connected to Easter. Even those who don’t believe in Jesus as the Son of God must recognize that accepting torture and death for the love of others is something enormous.

“Love one another as I have loved you,” says Jesus, and it’s the same phrase that Benigni uses: “Make others happy.” The verb is different, but the meaning is the same, because love given generously makes those around us happy.

25 March 2026

in Forum: News and lifestyle, Vines and wines

PREVIEW OF THE ORCIA DOC RISERVA CENERENTOLA

Cenerentola DOC Orcia Riserva 2020 Fattoria del Colle Donatella Cinellicolombini Toscana

10 VINTAGES OF ORCIA DOC CENERENTOLA TOGETHER WITH FASHION, DESIGN, EVENTS, SONGS AND FILMS FROM THE SAME YEARS TO DISCOVER HOW WINE IS CULTURE AND A MIRROR OF HUMANITY

Donatella Cinelli Colombini and her daughter Violante transformed the presentation of the 2020 Orcia DOC Riserva Cenerentola into a true workshop centred on the concept of “wine is culture.” A new and stimulating experience that engaged 60 guests, including journalists and industry professionals.

We’ll try to understand if wine changes its interpretation of the vineyard like a great piece of music. To illustrate the concept with an example, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 has a different character whether the orchestra is conducted by Toscanini, von Karajan, or Muti. The score is the same, just as the grapes and terroir are the same, but the final result changes based on an interpretation of the historical moment.

On Monday, March 23, at the Fattoria del Colle di Trequanda, for the first time, the wine will be tasted alongside the civilization in which it was born, an experience that will likely open new horizons for wine storytelling.

The tasting includes 10 vintages: 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018 of Orcia DOC Cenerentola, and the new 2020 Riserva, under the impeccable guidance of Ilaria Lorini, the first woman to be crowned Best Italian Sommelier (AIS) in 2025. From the first Italian wineries with an all-female staff, one could not expect anything different.

12 March 2026

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini

2 AMBULANCES FOR CARLO

WHAT FOLLOWS IS THE STORY OF HOW THE FINANCING FOR THE TWO NEW AMBULANCES OF THE MISERICORDIA DI SINALUNGA WAS REACHED. IT’S NOT A MIRACLE, BUT NEARLY

benedizione del'ambulanza in ricordo di Carlo Gardini alla Fattoria del Colle

Carlo Gardini’s second ambulance blessing in Fattoria del Colle

It all began while my husband Carlo was in the hospital after falling down the stairs and undergoing an operation that left him almost immobile in bed, experiencing a real ordeal.

During that sad time, I met Stefania Magnani, president of the Misericordia di Sinalunga, so as to volunteer. She directed me to two activities: preparing food parcels and raising funds to finance the purchase of two ambulances. At the time, the Misericordia needed to replace two ambulances that had already travelled more than 250,000 kilometres and they had only €10,000 in cash. The president was extremely worried and was considering buying two used ambulances to keep them going for a few years.

9 February 2026

in Vines and wines

An offer of “Wines for Her”, and not just for her!

Would you like to receive a preview of 3 bottles of Brunello Prime Donne 2021, and 3 bottles of Cenerentola 2021, delivered directly to your home for €234,00?

Offerta wine club Donatella Cinelli Colombini Cenerentola doc Orcia Brunello Prime Donne 2021

wine club offer Donatella Cinelli Colombini Cenerentola doc Orcia Brunello Prime Donne 2021, Fattoria del Colle, Casto Prime Donne Tuscany

A tribute to women who make a difference

An offer designed to celebrate femininity in wine, the strength of women who innovate, and the courage of those who have paved new paths towards gender equality. Two iconic wines, born from a unique winery in Italy: the first with an entirely female staff.

This selection is designed to:

🎁 Give to a special woman, as a sign of esteem and recognition
💪 Celebrate women who break down barriers, in work, in society, in life
🕊 Remember and honour all those who have paved the way in the fight for gender equality

Each bottle contains a story of commitment, talent and female passion

🍇 Offer of the Month – For Donatella Club Members

3 bottles of Brunello Prime Donne 2021 and 3 bottles of Cenerentola Orcia DOC 2021

2 bottles of each wine with its own label

And one bottle of each type with a customizable label

+2 shopping bags, 2 tissue papers, and 2 package sealers customized with the Donatella Cinelli Colombini logo

Price: 234,00 euro instead of 268,50 euro

For those who wish to double

459 euro instead of 537,00

8 January 2026

CENERENTOLA ORCIA DOC RISERVA 2020-ORGANIC

A SERIES OF ONLY 200 NUMBERED MAGNUM BOTTLES FOR DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI’S FIRST ORCIA DOC RISERVA. FOR WINE LOVERS LOOKING FOR EXCLUSIVENESS.

Sangiovese harvest 2020

The very small production run limits this wine’s audience to connoisseurs seeking exclusive bottles. In short, it’s a rare gem.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for over a year,” said Donatella Cinelli Colombini, without hiding her affection for the Cenerentola wine, which she considers one of the greatest successes of her professional life. “I believed in the native Foglia Tonda grape variety when it was on the verge of extinction, and I followed step by step the research for the right way to grow, harvest, and age it. I found winemakers who love it as much as I do—Valérie Lavigne and Barbara Magnani—and I made the Cenerentola DOC Orcia wine a true princess of winemaking,” she says, referring to the international ratings that award it scores between 91 and 94 out of 100.

“Producing an Orcia Riserva means showcasing Cenerentola’s excellent aging potential. The Sangiovese and Foglia Tonda grape varieties are genetically father and son. The former gives the wine elegance, the latter power. In the Fattoria del Colle terroir, at 400 meters above sea level, they find a particularly favourable habitat, producing elegant, powerful, velvety, and wines for cellaring.”

DOC ORCIA CENERENTOLA 2020 FROM FAIRY TALE TO WINE

Each magnum bottle will come in a white “royal case” with gold lettering that recalls the fairy tale from which the wine’s name originates. Indeed, Cinderella is a fairy tale transformed into wine. The Orcia DOC, to which it belongs, was created on February 14, 2000, nestled between the territories of its two more famous “sister” wines: Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. With courage, tenacity, and talent, the young appellation is establishing itself, and wines like Cenerentola are already exported to over 20 foreign markets.

2 December 2025

OFFER: NEW OLIVE OIL FOR YOU!

The new offer includes a blend of EVO oil and two single-cultivar varieties from Fattoria del Colle, delivered directly to your door for tasty and healthy dishes for €179.00.

You’ll receive four bottles of 0.75L organic EVO oil 2025, and two bottles each of 0.5L organic EVO oil 2025 Correggiolo and Moraiolo. Freshly pressed oil with its intense aroma and vibrant flavour, delivered directly from the mill to your table.

Fattoria del Colle is located in Trequanda, one of the best areas in Tuscany and the world for producing extra virgin olive oil thanks to its sandy soil, its remote location from the sea, and its altitude of over 400 meters, which protects it from olive fruit flies. The farm has 6 hectares of organic olive groves and sells exclusively its own oil. The olives are hand-harvested between October and November and pressed at the Oliviera Sant’Angelo, 10 km from the farm, and at the Frantoio di Montalcino.

🎁 For those who take advantage of this offer, a video with the “Guide to tasting EVO oil”!

13 November 2025

92/100 WS CENERENTOLA ALWAYS MORE A PRINCESS

DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI’S DOC ORCIA CENERENTOLA RETRACES THE FAIRY TALE OF THE POOR YOUNG WOMAN WHO BECOMES A PRINCESS AND IS AWARDED 92/100 FROM WINE SPECTATOR

Punteggio Wine Spectator Cenerentola DOC Orcia 2019, Fattoria del Colle, Donatella Cinelli Colombini

It’s difficult to stand out in an international wine market overcrowded with bottles. Especially with a young appellation like the Orcia DOC, and even more so with a native grape variety abandoned for over a century.

This is why Donatella Cinelli Colombini is happy every time her Cenerentola wine achieves a good result, like the 92/100 awarded by Wine Spectator for the 2019 vintage.

The Orcia DOC was born on February 14, 2000, in the high hills of southern Tuscany, nestled between the Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano territories. Sandwiched between two important and famous sisters, the Orcia DOC is in a favourable position for vineyards but difficult to establish a commercial niche.

6 November 2025

in Vines and wines

CHIANTI SUPERIORE DOCG 2024 FATTORIA DEL COLLE

FOR DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI THE 2024 HARVEST WAS AN ABUNDANT ONE WITH AN EXTRAORDINARILY FAVOURABLE FINISH THANKS TO THE SHOWERS IN SEPTEMBER.

At the end of August, after 60 consecutive days of scorching heat, the vines were at a standstill, and Donatella Cinelli Colombini was very worried. Then the weather changed, with heavy thunderstorms and a drastic drop in temperatures, dropping to 10°C at night.

These were ideal conditions for grape ripening, skin softening, and the synthesis of aromas.

The harvest was carefully prepared, leaf-pulling and removing excess bunches from the vines.

The harvest calendar was then planned like a military operation, monitoring the weather forecast, analysing the grapes, and tasting them to position machines and workers on the best day for each vineyard or portion of the vineyard.

A planning that called for very long days and work even on holidays, but the result was excellent.

7 October 2025

UNMISSABLE APPOINTMENT WITH WHITE TRUFFLES AND FINE RED WINES

AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE ON A NOBLE TUSCAN FARM WHERE WHITE TRUFFLES OF EXTRAORDINARY FINENESS, BRUNELLO WINE, AND ITALY’S MOST FAMOUS EVO OIL ARE MADE

Fattoria del Colle Trequanda weekend del tartufo

Fattoria del Colle Trequanda white truffle weekend

Rejuvenate amidst landscapes shaped by man over the centuries, at the time of year when the Sangiovese vineyards turn to a golden splendour on the hills. It’s the season of the white truffle of the Crete Senesi, known for its extraordinary elegance, rivalling that of Alba. It is also season of freshly produced EVO oil, which at Fattoria del Colle is diversified into five varieties, one of which is preserved in antique terracotta jars. It’s the season when you can already preview the future 2021 Brunello. Click here for more info

3 UNFORGETTABLE WEEKENDS WITH TRUFFLES WITH AN INCREDIBLE AROMA AND GREAT WINES

The first 3 weekends of November, coinciding with the Crete Senesi White Truffle Market.
Stays take place at Fattoria del Colle, a hamlet-like property built in 1592 around the villa where Donatella Cinelli Colombini still lives today. The villa will open its historic rooms for a guided tour.

23 September 2025

TIERRA MULTI- ETHNIC CAKE CREATED FOR THE PRIMA DONNA 2025

THE CAKE CREATED BY THE TESSIERI HIGHER TRAINING SCHOOL OF PASTRY FOR DARYA MAJIDI IS TIERRA AND COMBINES ANCIENT FLAVOURS AND CONTEMPORARY KNOWLEDGE

Tessieri Noalya con Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Tessieri Noalya with Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Montalcino, September 13, the 2025 Casato Prime Donne Award ceremony concludes at Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda with a cake in honour of the winner Darya Majidi, Donna 4.0.

It was created by students in the advanced pastry course at the Tessieri School of Ponsacco, led by instructor Fabio Centoni. A dessert that speaks of the dialogue between cultures, roots, and the future.

CAKE WITH IRANIAN RAW MATERIALS AND ETHICAL PRODUCTION

A story that describes Darya Majidi, a woman born in Iran and raised in Italy, tied to tradition and strongly committed to artificial intelligence and women’s understanding of it.

The dessert is made using three ingredients typical of Darya’s homeland (Iran): pistachio, pomegranate, and Medjool date. It’s all topped with Noalya chocolate, made with 72% cocoa from the Tessieri plantation in Venezuela.

9 September 2025

3-TIME COOKED CAULIFLOWER IN THE MONTALCINO MANNER

BOILED, FRIED, AND REDONE IN TOMATO SAUCE, A DELICACY FROM MONTALCINO’S GRANDMOTHERS. 3-TIME COOKED CAULIFLOWER IS FLAVOURFUL, INDIGESTIBLE AND EVEN DIETARY

by Donatella Cinelli Colombini, wine destination, Casato Prime Donne Montalcino

cavolo rifatto di Montalcino Fattoria del Colle Trequanda Donatella Cinelli Colombini

3-time cooked cauliflower can be served as an appetizer, a main course, or a side dish. In the Marche region, fried cauliflower is eaten without tomatoes and is delicious. The recipe I’m sharing is very tasty and can well enhance even banal dishes like roast beef or chicken breast. It harks back to grandmothers’ cooking, who, with humble ingredients, managed to create extraordinary flavours, warming the heart as well as the mouth.

This recipe also has another advantage: like all cabbage, it’s indigestible, so it fills for a long time and promotes weight loss.

It should be paired with the white wine used in cooking, so I recommend the IGT Toscana Sanchimento from Fattoria del Colle, a traminer with a hint of Grechetto, one-third of which is made following the Orange method.

14 August 2025

EXTRAVIRGIN OLIVE OIL: TRUE AND IMPORTED

ONLY 28% OF THE EXTRA VIRGIN OIL SOLD IN ITALY IS PRODUCED IN OUR COUNTRY. OUT OF 900 THOUSAND TONS OF CONSUMPTION AND EXPORT OF EVO OIL, 600 THOUSAND ARE IMPORTED

Solo il 28% dell'extravergine consumato o esportato dall'Italia è veramente italiano

Only 28% of EVO oil consumed o exported from Italy is really Italian

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini, winedestination, Casato Prime Donne

The data on EVO oil are impressive and reveal a bleak panorama. On one side, the Apulian olive groves destroyed by Xylella and the hilly ones abandoned due to lack of manpower. On the other side, a market unwilling to pay remunerative prices for Italian extra virgin olive oil made to the highest standards while the shop shelves are full of low-priced extra virgin olive oil from intensive olive groves in foreign countries.

The RTO Telematic Oil Registers show a stock of 190 thousand tons consisting of 71% EVO oil which is increasingly less Italian.

The Italian EVO oil production crisis does not seem to be stopping: plant diseases, adverse climate, abandonment of olive groves… the reasons are numerous but the results are devastating.

OUR NATIONAL PRODUCTION OF EVO OIL IS 28% OF WHAT WE NEED

Even the Italian olive harvest last autumn marked a drop of 90 thousand tons compared to the previous year. The production deficit is increasingly marked: we produce barely 240 thousand tons, that is 28% of what we need. Every year we need 850-900 thousand tons of which 550 for domestic consumption and 350 thousand tons for export. For this reason, agri-food industrialists source from Tunisia, Spain, Greece and other countries. Puglia in the South and Umbria in the Center are the nerve centres of storage.

31 July 2025

PINZIMONIO WITH HUMMUS

A FRESH, HEALTHY, VERY PLEASANT TUSCAN-MIDDLE EASTERN MIX FULL OF MULTI-ETHNIC SUGGESTIONS: THE VEGETABLE GARDEN AND TUSCAN PEASANT BREAKFASTS WITH ARAB SNACKS

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini, winedestination, Fattoria del Colle Trequanda, Casato Prime Donne Montalcino

A fresh, healthy, pleasant Tuscan-Middle Eastern mix full of multi-ethnic suggestions: the vegetable garden and Tuscan peasant breakfasts with the flavour of Arab snacks

To be honest, the idea is not mine, I tasted this delicious appetizer in Campiglia d’Orcia during “Bianco di sera” an event organized by Elena Salviucci, president of the Strada del Vino Orcia, in one of the most panoramic and beautiful spots in Tuscany.

This is a pinzimonio, a typical peasant snack made with celery, fennel, cucumber, carrot, to be eaten after having dipped them in extra virgin olive oil. The novelty is the addition of chickpea hummus that is placed in the pinzimonio cups together with the oil.

24 July 2025