Life on a Tuscan Farm

At the 2007 edition of the Italian national tasting competition for organic wines, BioDivino, Spannocchia’s 2006 red wine was awarded an Honorable Mention. More than three hundred wines were entered, and ours was one of only two Tuscan wines from 2006 to receive an award. We are very proud to have been selected for such recognition at an event that focuses not only on great tasting wine, but on wine that is created with production methods that respect the environment and human health. A presto!
(Photo by Kenn Stearns)

Today we did a taste test of Spannocchia’s organic Cinta Senese salami with the maker of a special ecological machine that helps to age salt cured meats quickly and reliably. We tried four different Spannocchia salami of different ages which had been aged either at Spannocchia or in this special machine. The verdict? We liked them all! But both the current and new methods were deemed to have their advantages and disadvantages. The accompanying photo is of Spannocchia Board Member Len Zuza (second from the left in photo) here visiting for the week with his wife Karen (not pictured), niece Lauren(center) and friends who participated in the tasting. A presto!

Yesterday, Sunday, June 10th we had the first of a series of three guided walks at Spannocchia provided free to the local community and guests on the property. The hike, lead by naturalist and historian Lorenzo Anselmi began at the main complex of Spannocchia at 9am and we didn’t make it back until almost 5:30 in the evening. We began by hiking down the main road and then turned off and went all the way off the property, past Anterigoli (a house that used to belong to Spannocchia), to the Castle That God Only Knows. Next we dropped down into the valley below to a beautiful waterfall and the ancient mill system on the Ricausa river. We then followed the clear, small, quick running Ricausa until it met the wide, slow Merse river and a more complex set of mills and almost reached Brenna.

We had a nice picnic across from Campalfi and the Merse river and then turned and went up, up, up (with thunder sounding in the distance although the storm missed us) and trekked all the way up past newly harvested cork trees to some hunting lodges and to Siena Vecchia (a pre-Etruscan site very near Spannocchia). Then we completed our very large circle, heading through the mixed pine forest and chestnut groves back to Spannocchia. Lorenzo stopped every so often to offer interesting stories (in English and Italian) about the local history and also discussed local flora and fauna. There was a very nice mix of local Italians and American guests and everyone enjoyed chatting and getting to know each other as we trekked. A presto!

The summer interns are here! They arrived on May 25th and will spend the next three months working hard and enjoying the Tuscan sun (if it ever comes out - it has been raining for a week!). Here is a shot of the group looking spiffy for Nostra Cena last night. We took advantage of the presence of photographer Kenn Stearns for a professional photo during wine on the terrace. Grazie Kenn. A presto!

Yesterday, Spannocchia was the location for the award ceremony of a special contest called “Energia e vinci”. The contest was for high schools in the province of Siena to sensitize students to the issues of renewable energy and conservation. The 80 students and their teachers arrived around 10:30 and began their morning by visiting Spannocchia’s waste water treatment system. Spannocchia’s Farm Manager Riccio explained its use and function on the property. Next they visited Spannocchia’s special wood burning furnace that produces heat and hot water for the property with wood from Spannocchia’s sustainably managed forest.

The award ceremony took place in the Limonaia behind the villa. The awards were presented by Giovanbattista Alfano, Silvano Becattelli, Marco Buzzichelli for Ag. APEA in the Provincia of Siena, S.p.a SIENAMBIENTE, and ESCO. Immediately after the awards ceremony, guests were given a chance to try Spannocchia’s organic salt-cured meats and organic red and white wine. For many years Spannocchia has been an example of sustainable agriculture and has practiced conservation and respect for the environment. We were honored to have been selected as the location for this special day. A presto!

Photos by Kenn Stearns