Valentine’s Day and the Doc Orcia’s Birthday
The Doc Orcia wine region was born on February 14th 2000, Valentine’s Day, and Cenerentola is the right wine to celebrate it by saying: I love you; do you want to be my princess?
Orcia Doc, birthday for Valentine’s Day, Cenerentola wine
by Donatella Cinelli Colombini
Doc Orcia, the denomination born under the sign of love, on February 14th, 21 years ago. An act of love towards a territory chosen by Unesco as a world heritage site for its rural landscapes formed by mankind during the centuries. It is Still surviving today maintained intact like a masterpiece in harmony between nature, history and men.
DOC ORCIA, TWENTYFIRST BIRTHDAY ON VALENTINE’S DAY
An image of beauty that Orcia – the most beautiful wine in the world – transforms into a liquid postcard to be enjoyed. A territory made up of high hills between the production areas of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino. In the past this region was hit often by spring frosts. Only with the recent worldwide climatic changes the Orcia grape growers have had continuity in grape production and have summed up the courage to compete with the two stronger wine regions close by, two older, more famous and stronger sisters.
The Tree of Gold, in Lucignano, tree of love, where lovers can promise eternal love on Valentine’s Day
CENERENTOLA DOC ORCIA, A WINE THAT RESEMBLES A FAIRYTALE LOVE STORY
A story similar to that of Cinderella and that is the reason her name was given to the Orcia Doc wine produced at Fattoria del Colle by Donatella Cinelli Colombini. The finale is the same too: the Cenerentola wine has now surpassed the magical line of the 90/100 ratings by great international by critics (for the vintage 2016, it received 93 from Wine Spectator, 91 from Wine Advocate/Robert Parker, and 93 from James Suckling) and now has a small crown on the label like a true princess. The production is still limited, only 10.000 bottles per year, but the number of fans is rapidly increasing all over the world, and among them there are some real princes.
The story of this wine tells of those who start off at a disadvantage but in the end succeed. It is the story of a real challenge because Cenerentola has the harmonious vigour of the best Supertuscans but is made with only autochthonous Tuscan grapes – Sangiovese and Foglia Tonda – the latter of which had been abandoned and has found new prospective of survival thanks to this wine.
A love story with a happy ending that transforms the Doc Orcia Cenerentola into an authentic symbol of romance. A wine that says to the loved one <<will you become my princess>> and transforms every man in love into a Prince Charming.
THE TREE OF LOVE IN LUCIGNANO FOR LOVERS’ PROMISES
But there is another Tuscan romantic rite for those who want to promise eternal love: in Lucignano in front of the Tree of Gold. This is the largest reliquary ever created (2,60 m. in height), it was started in 1350 and completed by the Sienese jeweller Gabriello d’Antonio in 1479. It is a copper tree with 12 branches decorated with vitreous enamels, quartz, corrals, shrines with reliquaries, and miniatures. It is in Luciano in the province of Arezzo (near the Monte San Savino exit of the A1), a village on top of a hill where the stone walls and the stone houses form roads in rings in concentric patterns like in medieval times. In the centre there is the Palazzo Comunale that dates back to the XIII –XV century. In the hall that once was the old courtroom, with 15th century frescoes of illustrious men, and where there is inscribed a very useful suggestion “Speak little, listen a lot, and think about the result of what you do”. Very useful suggestion for everybody but especially for young couples!
The “Albero d’oro” – tree of love, is in the middle of the hall. Lovers have always come here to exchange promises in front of this amazing sacred object on Valentine’s Day. I am sure it works and invite all couples in love to go and visit one of the most suggestive and authentic villages in Tuscany.