Mapping MONTALCINO

A wine fair in Montalcino that isn't just about Brunello? Now, that's a first! Tutto in un Sorso promises an exciting weekend and fresh wind for the lovely but rather autocentric  Tuscan town. Organized by Francesca Padovani and Marco Arturi from Montalcino's  Fonterenza winery , the first edition of Tutto in un Sorriso will showcase 47 organic and biodynamic wineries from every corner of Europe.  Wine lovers will recognize Foradori, Occhipinti and a few other shooting stars of the natural wine world. But with this fair, the real treat lies in discovering little-known European grape varieties and inspiring wines from small family-run vineyards. Labours of love which can't be easily found anywhere else in Italy!    Tutto in un Sorso Cloister of Sant'Agostino, Montalcino: June 3 and 4, 2018 Tastings from 11 am to 7 pm.  Entrance 15€ 

Towards the end of winter in the midst of February, Brunello town wakes up from hibernation. For two reasons: pruning: the vineyards are still resting, so it's high time to move in there with secateurs in hand to get things back into shape before spring is running havoc.  Benvenuto Brunello: Montalcino's most important event presents the freshly released Brunello  -  just count back five years to know which vintage will be on show (and six for Brunello Riserva) . The three days of tasting at the end of February bring the most important wine writers into town. In fact journalists, bloggers and wine critiques are flocking all through Tuscany, since during the same week the anteprima (preview or rather pretaste) of the Chianti Classico aka black rooster wines takes place in Florence and the one of Vino Nobile in Montepulciano. GOOD TO KNOW Benvenuto Brunello is organized every February by Montalcino's vintner association . The event...

Montalcino's brand new organic wine and food store introduces a series of talks with tastings of wines and food of local producers. The first event will be with winegrower Francesco Leanza from Podere Salicutti. And rightly so.  Originally from Sicily, Leanza moved to Montalcino in the early 90s and was the first producer to go organic in Montalcino. Today, Podere Salicutti's Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino have cult status and the IGT Dopoteatro has become one of the first organic Supertuscans.  Franci Bio: Not just organic wine Francesco Leanza is also co-founder of Sangiovese per Amico , a small association with the aim to monitor and enhance production and quality standards of Montalcino's king - the Sangiovese grape.   The owner of Podere Salicutti will talk about his experience of a life as organic winemaker in Tuscany and lead through the tasting of three of his wines: 2008 Brunello di Montalcino il Piaggione, 2011 Rosso Sorgente and 2011 Dopoteatro ...