We continued our expedition of Tuscan vineyards.
[Part 1 and Part 2 of this winery exploration story are here.]
Ghizzano, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
getty
News, reviews and more!
News, reviews and more!
by Wine
We continued our expedition of Tuscan vineyards.
[Part 1 and Part 2 of this winery exploration story are here.]
Ghizzano, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
getty
Our cinquecento automobile– we discovered after these explorations– changed from an utilitarian and economical post-war baby-boom bubble design to a freedom-loving lifestyle declaration, attached not only to motion pictures but to music. While traveling I was unconcerned that the latest model of the Fiat 500– an all electric cars and truck called La Prima (the First)– is featured in a Tuscan tour clip with vocalist Andrea Bocelli and child Matteo– and the tune Tempo.
Southeast of Pisa we pulled into Tenuta di Ghizzano– an enchanting spot of vineyards thickened amid hills shaggy with thick bush and poking forests. This is a land of narrow gravel roads, oak copses, pheasants, foxes, maize and blackberry brambles– an extremely varied surface of high valleys and dense greenery.
Tasting Venerosa white wines at Tenuta di Ghizzano, Tuscany, Italy
Tom Mullen
Wine maker and co-owner Ginevra Venerosi Pesciolini had worked in publishing in youth– clutching books in hand while she happily oscillated in between Florence, Milan and London. She abandoned that occupation in 1996 after going back to her family’s land and its mesmerizing landscape and realized that it teetered on the toes of bankruptcy and abandonment. Her household had actually shown up in the year 1370 from Florence (the era of the 100 Years War in France as well as the year of the creation of fatal steel crossbows).
Today the family has 44 acres (18 hectares) of vines and 30 acres (12 hectares) of olives. Primarily they grow Sangiovese grapes over a mixture of sandy clay limestone surrounded by prospering biodiversity. The household first bottled their own white wine in 1985, and in 2018 they received Demeter biodynamic accreditation. Their reason for ratcheting up natural techniques was that they saw how this gave their wines a more individual particular, reflective of local terrain.Tenuta di Ghizzano vines are surrounded by dense growth Tom Mullen’ I really fell for the land. So I had to discover agriculture, administration, wine. I participated in
courses in viticulture and marketing and traveled to different countries, ‘Ginevra described. She acquired a great deal of Red wine, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot grapes, and also planted a lot of Sangiovese. After her daddy died, she took an action he might have abhorred– however was financially necessary– and minimized their 13,000 olive trees to 5,000 prior to planting that land with vines. Today Tenuta di Ghizzano offers all over the world.’For volume, the U.S. is essential.
For worth, it’s Switzerland,’explained Ginevra. Inside the household’s ancient but warm and captivating home we sat below mounted boar and deer heads– hunted
prizes from eras past– and delighted in risotto while sampling vintages. Meanwhile, weather closed in and hammer manages and pitchforks drizzled from the sky and tuono e lampo– thunder and lightning– slashed and hacked their escape of a soggy paradise above. Their Nambrot white wine, a mix of Red wine, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, is coherent, well balanced and consists of aromas of red plums and wet leaves
. Envision a herb garden blended with a fruit patch in the mouth. You may even think– I can consume this. Their Ghizzano Bianco biodynamic white wine made with Trebbiano, Vermentino and Malvasia Bianco is scented with honey and mandarin scents, while flavors blend sweet taste with sour.’An extremely gastronomic wine,’Ginevra said.’The Malvasia is soft and round. Good with soups and white meat, nothing complicated.’Sangiovese grapes, Tuscany, Italy getty Tasting Notes from
Tenuta di Ghizzano-Tenuta di Ghizzano. Veneroso. Terre di Pisa Rosso. DOC. 2017. 94+points. Huge and rippling fragrances, soft as a pillow, of red cherries, strawberries, some white pepper andminor salt. Also red licorice
and peppermint after 5 minutes in the glass. Flavors
of a rounded red fruit beauty– in addition to sweet cane and German chocolate cake, thyme
, rosemary, and pimento d’espelette pepper. Soft and welcoming with beautiful acidity and stylish although nearly invisibly transparent tannins. A layer cake. Tenuta di Ghizzano. Veneroso. Terre di Pisa Rosso. DOC. 2018. 95 +points. An explosion of red fruit aromas with herbs– tarragon and rosemary. Also aromas of candy walking cane, peppermint and eucalyptus. Tastes include mushrooms, black pepper, spices and thyme. Long finish, gorgeous level of acidity.
Tenuta di Ghizzano. Veneroso. Terre di Pisa Rosso. DOC. 2019. 96 points.
Meaty scents of spice and red fruit– consisting of strawberries. Also black peppers and spearmint. Open and fresh acidity– well balanced.
Chianti Colli Fiorentini-We next took a trip back to the borders of Florence, the
ancient city with a throbbing heart. Named after a tower on a hill, Terra A Cona is a resort, a dining establishment and a winery in a stylish slice of countryside with rich and rolling uneven vistas. 5 towers were developed on a hill here to secure the roadway between Florence and Arezzo. The property consists of 200 hectares( 500 acres)of land, of which 50 hectares(125 acres
)are old vines producing mainly Sangiovese wines. In 2015 they began experimenting with Colorino grapes. Vineyards on rolling slopes listed below the castle grow over clay, sand and limestone soils. After visiting (including a nearby graveyard where Albert Einstein’s family members, who died during the war, are interred) we took pleasure in a dazzling meal. Chiara Bellacci from the estate poured white wines as we consumed exceptional meals of grilled anchovies garnished with sausages, crispy Tuscan whole meal fusilloni pasta with mushrooms and thyme, and Maremma beef
. We asked who prepared this food. The chefs who prepared this meal, a couple called Maria Probst and Christian Santandrea, moved from a Michelin starred dining establishment to produce their own experience and brand name. Maria originates from a household of butchers and Christian has a pastry background. We consumed their unworldly delicious dishes inside a big and welcoming dining-room
. The menu consists of lovely watercolor images of dishes drawn by Maria. (Besides the white wines listed below, attempt the Fonti e Leccetta 100 %Sangiovese sweet white wine.)Chef Maria Probst of Torre A Cona outside Florence, Tuscany, Italy Tom Mullen Tasting Notes from Torre A Cona-Torre A Cona. Chianti Colli Fiorentini. DOCG. 2019. 92 +points. 90/10 blend of Sangiovese/Colorino that ages eight months in cellar and 3 months in bottle. 60,000 bottles produced of this red wine with hefty and perfumed scents that consist of lavender, queen of the night flowers and roses, in addition to some black pepper,
marjoram, sage and sliced cherries. In the mouth– crisp tastes of figs and biltong. Slick acidity, boisterous however regulated tannins, some blueberries and
cooked steak on the surface. Torre A Cona.
Terre di Cino. Chianti Colli Fiorentini. Riserva. DOCG.
2018. 92-94 points. Old vine 100%Sangiovese aged 24 months in tonneau, and 12 months in bottle. 3,000 bottles produced. Heavy, gorgeous perfume that consists of aromas of lilacs, roses, pencil lead and violets. Open to strawberries after 5 minutes. A chewy however soft white wine with timeless broad shouldered Sangiovese tannins and tastes of black pepper and minestrone and soft red fruit such as raspberries on the surface.
Succulent level of acidity, sleek but confident tannins. Couple with fussiloni pasta and herbs.
Torre A Cona. Colorino Casamaggio.Toscana IGT. 2018. 92– 93 points. 100%Colorino. Aged 12 months in Slavonian oak and eight months in bottle. 3,000 bottles produced a year. Black color, and deeply dense scents of fig newtons, tar, treacle, gorse grove, holly and blackberries. In the mouth, smooth and special flavors of dark fruit and black pepper, along with juicy red peppers. Rather an acidic edge with tastes of Dutch dorp licorice. Unique. Pair with Maremma medium-rare beef.Maremma beef with wine in Tuscany, Italy Tom Mullen Other Tuscan White wines -We likewise tasted various other Tuscan red wines from various regions. Domini Castellare di Castellina. I Sodi di S. Niccolo. IGT. 2018. Tuscany IGT. 94 points. Fresh and bright scents, although at first somewhat cloaked, of strawberries and cherries. Flavors both delicate and cheerful, with light red fruit that consists of raspberries. Great level of acidity. Layered, light and establishing in the glass over minutes, with tastes of brownies, treacle and black licorice superimposed over fragile red fruit. A well incorporated package with taught and interwoven subtle tastes
enchilada or lightly prepared lamb and cep (porcini)mushrooms.
Le Cupole. Trinoro. Rosso Toscana. IGT. 2020. 95 points.
Fresh and smooth scents of raspberries, blueberries and damp granite, along with mocha, dark plums and nettles. In the mouth, flavors of cocoa, red plums and kägi stress Swiss chocolate biscuits. This is a chocolate dominant three layer cake, topped by sliced raspberries. Crisp and uplifting acidity with textured, yet subtle tannins. Petra. Quercegobbe. Toscana Rosso. IGT. 2019. 92-94 points. This 100% Red wine opens up with marine and wilderness fragrances– wet shoreline rocks, salinity, sea breeze; it
also pulses with country farmyard fragrances of heather and gorse.
All backed by fragrances of sweet red cherries and black cherries and a licorice base. Succulent level of acidity, creamy tannins, some texture and suaveness on the tongue and a cherry parfait of tastes. Set this with a carrot and cumin velouté, or grilled ribs, or a tagliatelle with a surf/turf meld of shrimps and truffle
. Delightful. Petra. Toscana Rosso.
IGT. 2018. 92 points. This mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Wine and Cabernet Franc consists of scents of earthy, pine, pine cones and ripe red fruit. Even livelier in the mouth, with rolling flavors mid palate of red cherries, strawberries, caramel and toffee and some lime drops on the finish. Particular signature freshness and minerality from this winery, which likewise produces terrific Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot single varietal red wines. Società Agricola Bertinga. Volta di Bertinga. Toscana IGT. 2016. 93+points.
100%Red wine from Gaiole in Chianti. Brisk and deep fragrances of earth, damp bark, truffles and blackberries and black cherries. Smooth in the mouth, a quicksilver pulse of chestnuts and strawberries in a liquid flash, with delicate tannins. You need a second sip, and fast. Pair this with hummus and pecorino cheese, and even peach and strawberry dessert. Concluding-So ended this Tuscan trip, which supplied a great appreciation for Italian red wine, food and automotive engineering. When thinking about iconic Italian nouns– Doumo,
Arno, Michelangelo, Leonardo, I may even now add– Cinquecento. All are constituents of an embracing Florentine and Italian cultural vernacular. I patted the hood of Paola’s 500 prior to leaving Tuscany– somewhat mystified once again. Italy provides visitors with this strange sense of having remained in an alternate universe, where laws of physics and balance of ecology and methods of commerce are similar as those we know, but slanted somewhat slightly in the disposition of generosity of spirit. Here, enthusiasm about politics is extreme, however less so than concern about cooking, or red wine or well-being of household. Here in Tuscany is this magnificent, subtle urge to share the sense that life can be larger than scratching for day-to-day bread. Yet to understand this– it assists if you can visit.