4 July 2023

Monteverro, aperitif with the artist via Zoom

The Capalbio winery continues its path of artistic contamination and presented the new graphic design for its two “young” wines – Verruzzo and Vermentino – , inspired by a work of art by Davide Dormino, during a zoom wine tasting with some lifestyle journalists. Monteverro is a jewel of a winery in Capalbio, well-known not only for the quality of its wines, but also for its transversal commitment to art, music and culture. Indeed, the estate has always embraced a philosophy of contamination, collaborating with internationally renowned artists. This year sees the debut of the new edition of artist labels. This is the natural evolution of Monteverro’s collaboration with ‘Arte&Vino’, a kermesse curated by Maria Concetta Monaci and organised by the cultural association Il Frantoio, which enhances the collaborations between wineries and artists, finding a perfect harmony of visions between the winery’s oenological identity and the evocative creations. The remote aperitif was held on 29 July and was an opportunity for journalists to have a talk with Matthieu Taunay, the winery’s oenologist, and Davide Dormino, the artist himself, who explained the meaning of his artwork ‘Apollo Resisti!’ by Davide Dormino, an artist from Viterbo, who teaches at ‘Rufa’, and which will be hosted on the estate during Arte&Vino from May 2021. The original work is a bronze sculpture inspired by the Colossus of Rhodes, of which Dormino reproduces only the lower part, the two legs forming a triangle that represents the earth and, at the same time, divinity. The outstretched legs compensate for the lack of verticality due to the loss of the torso. In its incompleteness it takes on a whole new majesty, the legs metaphorically stand like two columns symbolising Art itself, engaged in a test of strength against the world.  Hence the cry: ‘Apollo Resisti! ‘Like the original Colossus, it thus becomes a gateway to all that the horizon behind it brings,’ explains Dormino. The choice of this work for the labels of  Monteverro‘s ‘young’ wines is no coincidence. ‘Young wines represent the essence of our philosophy, a true and sincere expression of that southern Tuscany that is the authentic Maremma,’ explain Monteverro.

29 June 2023

Tenuta Mazzolino’s Oltrepò Pavese conquers the ‘Eternal City’

The winery of excellence in Corvino San Quirico landed in Rome for the first time for a press lunch attended by 14 journalists. Francesca Seralvo, the third generation at the helm of the winery in the province of Pavia, and Stefano Malchiodi, the estate’s oenologist and agronomist, recounted – with the passion that has always distinguished them – the wines and the history of the winery, involving the guests in a journey from the winery’s beginnings to the present day. It all began in 1980 when Francesca’s grandfather set up this beautiful winemaking adventure, hiring a French oenologist of Greek origin – Kyriakos Kynigopoulos – after reading wonders about his work in the vineyard in Le Figaro.Then the estate was taken over by Francesca’s mother and finally by Francesca herself who took it over – after an official investiture by her grandfather (chosen from dozens of grandchildren) – in 2015, when she left the legal profession to get her hands dirty in the vineyard. Today, the estate’s wines stand out qualitatively in the Oltrepò panorama. At the lunch in Rome, journalists had the pleasure of tasting theCruasè 2018, Pinot Noir Spumante Rosé, the Blanc 2021, Chardonnay, the Terrazze Alte 2021, Pinot Noir and the Noir 2019, Pinot Noir. Everything was held in the splendid setting of Palazzo Velabro, an elegant 18th-century residence – back in its renewed version as a mixed-use hotel: it is located between the Palatine Hill and the Forum Boarium, in the shadow of the Arch of Janus, a stone’s throw from the Mouth of Truth. To accompany the wines of the Mazzolino estate, the menu of chef Penelope Musolino – a chef from the experience at Heinz Beck’s three-starred ‘La Pergola’ in Rome.

22 June 2023

Castellina in Chianti Winegrowers’ Association tells its story in Florence 

Castellina in Chianti Winegrowers’ Association has chosen Florence for the final event of the tour that, after Rome and Milan, made a stop in the Tuscan County Seat to tell the story of this splendid Chianti Classico territory through the words of Armando Castagno, writer and great wine professional, who collected the interviews of 37 producers in the book “Castellina in Chianti – territorio, vino, persone” presented on Monday 19 June at the Astra cinema in Florence. Interviewed by Luciano Ferraro, deputy editor of the Corriere della Sera and wine expert journalist, Castagno recounted anecdotes, behind-the-scenes stories, passions and curiosities that emerged during the interviews with the producers, revealing the most human and authentic side of those whose work has succeeded in making the wines of this Chianti Classico area so extraordinarily suited to quality wine-growing great. After the presentation, 37 producers from Castellina in Chianti served their Chianti Classico wines for tasting to the journalists and trade operators who attended the event.
16 June 2023

A press trip to discover Tenuta Mazzolino

A premium winery in the Oltrepò Pavese area, a rich story to tell: one of wine, vines and life. That of Francesca Seralvo, third generation, who in 2015 left the law and threw herself wholeheartedly into this adventure. The aim? To carry on the work done by his grandfather first and then by his mother, that is, to make excellent wines – a few labels but all of the highest quality – and to turn Mazzolino into a reference hub for wine culture, for initiatives linked to the world of wine, but also for open-air cinema evenings and wine tastings. Here on these hills of Pavia stands the family villa, recently renovated, from which 12 rooms have been obtained. “A conservative renovation that wanted to keep intact the old-world charm of the family home,” says Francesca, “among old prints and works of art, collected over the years”. Now with this restoration and the creation of 12 rooms, the winery is opening up to a niche tourism “for wine enthusiasts and events”. These were some of the ideas that emerged during the press trip on 18 May: a dozen or so lifestyle journalists were able to immerse themselves in the magical atmosphere of Mazzolino, which bears its name – from mansiolinum, meeting point – in its nature: and indeed the winery is a crossroads of suggestions that fascinates those who visit it. Even in an almost autumnal May that suddenly gives the colours of spring: the sun, the blue sky and an Italian rose garden that is made to be instagrammed.