Making pasta with the organic grain from the estate, we began to discover just how much is possible with a steaming plate of penne. What we like most about this pasta is exactly this, its simplicity, how easy it is to prepare, and the exquisite potential to be found in a food so seemingly modest. […]
Fattoria
WINTER PRUNING
Never as in the vineyard is it fair to say that in January we make a clean break ( a “sharp cut” in Italian) with the past: it’s pruning time. Winter pruning is an essential practice for the well-being and vigor of the plant and prepares the vine to produce for the next year. Pruning […]
FROM TREE TO BREAD
During the past few weeks, the entire farm has been abustle with the olive harvest. Up and down the stone terraces, and up on the sunny slopes (or rain drenched slopes like the last couple of days), the magic of Autumn is in the air, with smoke from burning wood mingling with the morning […]
OUR GRAPES
It’s that time of the year again! It’s September and our grapes are beautiful, ripe and ready for picking. Because it’s time to harvest, our Francesco has gathered and presented the estate’s most important varietals, the most historical, those that were rediscovered, and the latest arrivals. First of all, the Sangiovese, our most prized grape, […]
FRESH FROM THE FARM: OUR PLUMS
17The wide variety of plum trees we chose to plant 5 years ago means we have fresh plums all summer long, from June to September. These various types of “prunus domestica” ripen at different times of the summer, some produce more fruit than others and they differ noticeably in flavour and colour. In June we […]
THE GOLDEN EARS
Wheat is the symbol of Summer abundance. Watching the golden ears of wheat moving in the wind, soaked in sunshine, is a special and exciting moment, especially for those like us, who love pasta. Vignamaggio decided to use indigenous and ancient grains like the hard grain Senatore Cappelli and soft grain Verna varieties that have […]
OUR ARTICHOKES
Artichokes fields are one of the most distinguishing characteristics of the Chianti landscape: on terraced land, flanking roads and on the crest of drystone walls, these magnificent verdant plants with their large silver-tinged green leaves, can be seen everywhere in spring. A true delicacy, in Tuscany the artichoke is eaten preserved in oil, as a […]
THE 2019 HARVEST
On the 16th of September 2019, Vignamaggio began picking grapes, with 30 people at work on 52 hectares of vines. A day spent in the vineyards during harvest time is quite special: there is chatter to be heard in a variety of languages, a few lively Tuscan expressions filter through the branches, and at precisely […]
AN ORIGINAL CHRISTMAS TREE
Christmas is around the corner, and as usual, we called upon Cristiano and Gilles to design our Christmas tree. They came up with a unique Christmas tree inspired by nature, made from material easily found while strolling around Vignamaggio. You can make this tree too, from what you find as you explore the fields and […]
COMPOST: WHAT IS IT AND WHAT IS IT USED FOR?
WHAT IS COMPOST USED FOR? Compost is a natural fertilizer and is necessary for enriching the ground, making it more fertile and productive. Differently from chemical fertilizers, compost is environmentally friendly. It is also an ecological and wise method of dealing with organic waste that would otherwise end up burned or in dumps. Adding compost […]