Archive for 'Food and Wine'

Tourists might be amazed to learn that Italy produces over a quarter of the world’s wine! Its ideal geographical layout of sun kissed hills and a warm all year climate means that over sixty percent of Italian vineyards are located on hillsides. Tuscany is most famous for its red wines and has a great reputation of wine production as seven DOCG and thirty five DOC wines are produced here. Read our fascinating article on Italian wine classification awards to learn more about the high standards required to earn these prestigious awards.

The best way to begin harvesting grapes is by hand, gently so that the skin isn't broken and exposed to oxygen. They are quickly brought to be washed and have any stems or leaves removed.

The first process is called the pressing stage and the objective is to gently press the grapes so that the juices can start to flow and mix with the yeast naturally found in the grape skins. This marks the beginning of the fermentation process.

To experience some of the most exquisite Italian food in the country, a booking a stay in the stunning Tuscany region would be ideal. A highly advance civilisation thrived here between 800BC and 390bc called the Etruscans. They were particularly talented in culinary knowledge. The ancient art of Etruscan cuisine is still very much alive in this region, faithfully passed down through the millennia.

Disregarded by the Military Romans as heavy drinkers obsessed with feasting and having a good time, the Etruscans were the party people of Italy; and they had every right to be! The rich soil of their land and perfect sunny temperatures close to the sea provided them with ideal cultivation conditions.

Orchards brimming with a huge variety of delicious fruits and olives and fields covered with a thriving harvest of cereals and other vegetables meant that the Etruscans had a fantastic variety of food available to them to compliment their meat and fish dishes. They even had plenty of surplus grains to send to other parts of Italy during famines.

Learn all about the long and fascinating tradition of truffle hunting in Tuscany on your next vacation here! This delicious relative of the mushroom is a delicacy all over the world and can be very expensive to buy. Visitors wishing to book a truffle hunting tour should stay in the charming town of San Miniato in Pisa province where there is a nearby area in which they grow.

There are professional truffle hunters here who travel through the wooded area of San Miniato with their sniffer dogs in search of the elusive white truffle! The white truffle is the most expensive in the world because of its rarity and delicious pungent flavour. It is pale cream or light brown in colour with white marbling.

A truffle is the fruiting body of an underground fungus. Book a place on a fun truffle hunting trail with an expert guide who will lead through the woods where they grow close to the roots of trees.

They come out of the ground, half hidden under the dirt and could be easily missed without learning tips on how to find them by your expert guide!

There are different trail packages to choose from that include a delicious lunch made using truffles or a tasting along with some nice wine. Visit their website for more information on this exciting opportunity to engage in one of Tuscany’s oldest and most enjoyable traditions!

The hills of Montalbano are spread across the provinces of Florence, Prato and Pistoia. They have become famous over the years for their food, wine and olive oil production because of the rich fertile soil that exists here. Tourists who enjoy trying exquisite new flavours and textures would love a tour around some of the towns in the area for a few days where they can fully immerse themselves into a welcoming and gastronomic paradise!

Those wishing to rent an accommodation here for a few days have a lovely choice of vacation rentals in Borgo San Lorenzo, a beautiful town tucked into the Montalbano hills that’s within easy reach of other communes in the area.

If you’re planning to book a tuscan vacation rental, then why not visit the charming village of Piancastagnaio in Siena province whilst you’re here and take part in a famous chestnut festival that is celebrated here in late October every year! It is the oldest and most important festival in the Monte Amiata area and has been held in this lively little village since 1967!

There are some gorgeous luxury villas in Radicofani, a nearby town to Piancastagnaio if tourists want to stay close to the action! Radicofani is a beautiful Orange Flag awarded town that is well worth a visit in itself!

Held in the main square of Piazza Belvedere, the chestnut festival originated because of the importance surrounding this staple food in the area. High up in the mountains, the ground was fertile but the climate was too cold for some vegetables and grains to successfully grow.