November in Tuscany can be chilly and unfriendly. With icy cold Tramontana winds blowing from the north or unpleasant humid weather moving in from the coast.
The ideal combination for mushroom gatherers is produced by a bit of rain followed by splendid sunshine - the perfect growing conditions for these fellas...
Porcini mushrooms (funghi porcini in Italian) are loved by everybody. But they taste best when hunted by yourself.
Mushrooms taste divine in many forms. But nothing compares to eating them freshly picked right in the woods.
MUSHROOM HUNTING IN MONTALCINO
If you're in the area in autumn or winter, ask at your B&B, hotel or at any winery in Montalcino about mushroom picking in Tuscany. One of the most prolific pickers in Brunello territory is Marco Sassetti, the husband of Laura Gray from the Palazzone estate. Book a wine tasting with Laura, buy a few bottles of Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino, and then casually ask for the best porcini spots in the area...
The Palazzone winery's blog also explains how Montalcino's woodcutting past is linked to the name of the wine town and to one of the porcini mushrooms' favorite homes: Mediterranean holm oak woods.
Or it can look like this:
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| Autumn lunch in our olive grove with new EVOO |
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| Umbrella or UFO? |
Porcini mushrooms (funghi porcini in Italian) are loved by everybody. But they taste best when hunted by yourself.
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| Not just porcini: a selection of mushrooms found in Tuscany's forests |
Before morphing into Brunello land, Montalcino has been woodcutters country for centuries. Today its inhabitants belong to the highest per capita earners of the region, but many of them still carry the hunting-gathering gen transmitted by centuries of foraging Tuscan ancestors.
The most expansive forests near Montalcino can be found along the road towards Castiglione del Bosco (Italian for 'castle of the woods'). Even with GPS and WIFI coverage, it's still surprisingly easy to get lost in this part of the world, so stay on the path if you explore Montalcino's holm oak woods on your own.
The most expansive forests near Montalcino can be found along the road towards Castiglione del Bosco (Italian for 'castle of the woods'). Even with GPS and WIFI coverage, it's still surprisingly easy to get lost in this part of the world, so stay on the path if you explore Montalcino's holm oak woods on your own.
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| Woods not vineyards: Montalcino's northwestern territory |
There are many types of eatable mushrooms growing in Tuscany's forests. Many are prized like the rare cucco or the lovely looking famigliole, but as in other parts of the world, the porcino (boletus edulis) is the lion king.
I'm utterly useless at finding any of them. Edible ones at least, as it's impossible not to tread on a few poisonous or psychedelic mushrooms during autumn walks. The trick is to team up with locals who know where to find them. And whether to eat them or not (aba local for mushroom gathering advice in Tuscany. And always remember to show your finds to a seasoned picker before taking the first bite!)
I'm utterly useless at finding any of them. Edible ones at least, as it's impossible not to tread on a few poisonous or psychedelic mushrooms during autumn walks. The trick is to team up with locals who know where to find them. And whether to eat them or not (aba local for mushroom gathering advice in Tuscany. And always remember to show your finds to a seasoned picker before taking the first bite!)
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| Hours of work... |
Mushrooms taste divine in many forms. But nothing compares to eating them freshly picked right in the woods.
 |
| Fire-cooked polenta with a side dish of marinated mushrooms. Yes, please! |
MUSHROOM HUNTING IN MONTALCINO
If you're in the area in autumn or winter, ask at your B&B, hotel or at any winery in Montalcino about mushroom picking in Tuscany. One of the most prolific pickers in Brunello territory is Marco Sassetti, the husband of Laura Gray from the Palazzone estate. Book a wine tasting with Laura, buy a few bottles of Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino, and then casually ask for the best porcini spots in the area...
The Palazzone winery's blog also explains how Montalcino's woodcutting past is linked to the name of the wine town and to one of the porcini mushrooms' favorite homes: Mediterranean holm oak woods.
Or forget about all the hunting / gathering and ask for fresh porcini at one of the brestaurants in Montalcino (and of course eat them in the company of a glass of Brunello!).