Author: jov@na

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Immersive Tuscan days

IMMERSIVE TUSCAN DAYS

Autumn & winter edition

TUSCANY IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST LOVED DESTINATIONS, BUT WHAT IF YOU HAVE JUST A FEW DAYS TO SPEND HERE?

HOW CAN YOU OPTIMIZE YOUR TIME WHILE STAYING AT CONTI DI SAN BONIFACIO WINE RESORT?

WE’VE GOT SOME SUGGESTIONS TO HELP YOU MAKE UP YOUR MIND.

HERE 5 SUGGESTIONS FOR YOU

1. ONE

For enthusiasts of art and culture, the Tuscan cities and villages offer some of the world’s most beautiful and well-known attractions.

Stay at our Wine Resort in Maremma to explore the best areas in the Tuscan countryside.

Montemassi and Massa Marittima are located not far from each other and are a true wonder, two medieval jewels rich in history, art and monuments. In particular, Massa Marittima is the birthplace of Monteregio DOC wines.

Visiting these hamlets, not far from Conti di San Bonifacio Wine Resort, will allow you to have half a day at your disposal to spend on another experience. In the autumn season, a horseback ride in the forest or on the beach of Cala Violina will immerse you in the beauty of the autumn-colored forest.

Alternatively, for wine lovers, you can spend a couple of hours learning the secrets of Winemaking with our Complete Wine Tasting. During a visit to the cellar, our winemaker will let you taste the different varieties of wine and will explain our production and aging methods throughout the experience.

2. TWO

If you are looking for a Hotel Spa experience in Tuscany, there is no better way than to spend a day at the spa in Maremma during the colder seasons.

The Terme di Saturnia are the best-known and most famous thermal springs and one of the most enchanting destinations in the Maremma. Its’ thermal waterfalls, “Cascate del Mulino“, are perhaps the most famous natural thermal springs in Tuscany, consisting of so many natural pools of warm thermal water and relaxing waterfalls. They are open to the public and completely accessible throughout the year.

When you return to us, we recommend that you end your day with a cooking class organized by one of our chefs at Conti di San Bonifacio Wine Resort, who will guide you in preparing typical Tuscan dishes that you can then enjoy as your dinner.

3. THREE

Tuscany is the ideal destination to enrich your holiday with unique experiences. We suggest you head to Siena during the day while staying at our Retreat. It takes about 40 minutes to go there – one of the most loved and visited cities in Tuscany, a place rich in history and art, and strong traditions. The famous Palio di Siena is known the world over.

If you are visiting Siena for the first time, you must visit, the city’s heart, the wonderful Piazza del Campo, one of the symbolic places of the city. In the area between Piazza del Campo and the Cathedral, you will find the city’s main attractions, including the precious Duomo.

Once back at CDSB, book an in-room or spa relaxing treatment to end a perfect day in Tuscany.

4. FOUR

Tuscany is a region full of landscapes of outstanding beauty, such as the Maremma Natural Park, a protected area rich in ecosystems where biodiversity and conservation are at the heart of our wild countryside. You can discover this miraculous place by bike, on foot, during carriage rides, on a night excursion, or on a guided bird-watching tour.

Upon your return to CDSB, enjoy our six-course food and wine pairing dinner. Our executive chef and sommelier have personally selected each of the seductive pairings. During your dinner, you will have the opportunity to talk with them about their flavors and aromas, the different winemaking philosophies, and the unique stories behind the artisans who produce these local ingredients.

5. FIVE

Autumn brings with it delicacies with the original flavors of Tuscany. Conti di San Bonifacio Wine Resort designed local activities perfect for the Tuscan autumn. The “Truffle Hunter” is a day spent with an expert “hunter” of truffles and his dogs, in the Tuscan woods.

Prepare yourself for an intensively emotional day. Finish off this once in a lifetime adventure with our perfect “Truffle Lunch” where you can taste in Tuscany the fruits of your spoils.

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Our wellness philosophy

Our wellness philosophy

OUR WELLNESS PHILOSOPHY

How wine & wellness is good for the body & soul – Q&A with Sarah di San Bonifacio

HOW WINE AND WELLNESS IS GOOD
FOR THE BODY AND SOUL

Q&A WITH SARAH DI SAN BONIFACIO – FOUNDER AND CEO OF
CONTI DI SAN BONIFACIO WINE RESORT

To get under the skin of the evolving philosophy at the resort, we asked Sarah about the project she started now almost twenty years ago. As an English woman living in Italy for a decade, after twenty years of working in the City of London, we felt she might know something about switching gears and making better and more mindful choices!

Q. WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND CREATING THIS RETREAT IN TUSCANY?

The project was really born out of an urgent need to rebalance my life when I was working at Goldman Sachs in the late 90’s. I had decided to convert some of the blood, sweat and tears into an escape. I fell in love with this estate in Tuscany and ever since I have come here to unplug from the crazy back in London!

From the beginning the place was mesmeric and it only ever took 24 hours to completely let go. It was like a spiritual detox being out here and made the subsequent years of work possible. Sharing it with others and creating a destination where our guests can restore harmony and balance to their often busy and stressful schedules became my mission. It took another ten years to finally have the courage to leave my job but aligning my passion and purpose has been the right journey for me.

Q. WHAT DOES WELLNESS MEAN TO YOU HERE IN TUSCANY?

I believe the concept of ethical travel and hospitality has been around for a while. We see more and more of our guests mindfully choosing their vacations. It needs to mean more than just “taking a break.” Our guests tend to have their own wellness objectives around clean eating, eco travel and reconnecting at an emotional level through an authentic and often transformative experience.

Guests arrive here frazzled and leave feeling that both body and mind have been nourished. Our location in Tuscany meets their visceral needs. The Wine Hotel sits within a couple of hundred acres of unspoilt organic vineyards, olive groves and forest. We have organic fine wines that we make on the estate and the immersive wine, food and nature experiences are right at their fingertips. I think there has been a big shift from traditional destinations to unspoilt, virgin locations which are off the grid. A stay with us is often a part of a bigger personal wellness journey.

Q. WHAT WOULD A TYPICAL STAY LOOK LIKE FOR A CITY DWELLING GUEST?

The need to unplug and tap into local life in a completely natural environment has become a big lifestyle goal. Escaping to a private wine estate where they can walk in vineyards and taste wine from the barrels or pick organic vegetables from our garden then cook and eat with them are just a couple of way we help fulfill our guests dreams.

Don’t we all want to make better choices for ourselves and the planet? Our holidays are no exception so a big part of our mission is to help visitors do just that. We tend to think of their time with us as our opportunity to curate a menu of experiences to meet their wellness goals. A couple who arrive from a busy, urban life tend to visit us with an immersive nature experience in mind. From the moment they check in, the unwind begins.

The service has to be attentive and meticulous without being overwhelming-always driven from the heart. You will feel as if you’re the special guest being cared for in the house of a friend. Of course the architecture and the interior design matters – the canvas has to be right and reflect a philosophy of restorative calm and warmth. I’ve tried to create light and airy spaces which connect you to the outdoors – winter or summer.

Q. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ORGANIC IN THE HOSPITALITY BUSINESS?

We were really determined that any property and land we took on would be organic. This estate is certified organic which means that chemicals have never been used here, not in the vineyards, the olive groves or the fields.

At the core of our mission is to be ethical and sustainable both in the way we care for our guests and also the wine, foods and oils we produce. The restaurant at the hotel is a holistic experience in and of itself. Sitting under the trees watching the sunset eating locally sourced meat and fish and vegetables from the organic garden on site.

To compliment the plate we produce three award-winning Super Tuscan wines from the vineyard stretching out beneath you. We’ve know for a long time that Italian food is already avant garde when it comes to excellence but here in Tuscany, farm to plate takes you to the next level. Its pure medicine, nourishing body and soul.

Q. SO WHAT’S THE BIG MESSAGE?

The passion and driving force behind the Wine and Wellness Retreat is to create a sanctuary of personalised well-being. I want to empower guests and make it easy for them to spend a few days with us restoring the harmony we so often are lacking back at home. I think this is where we all feel at our most fulfilled. We’re all trying to prioritise self care and save our sanity at the same time so undisturbed natural environments with transformative experiences you can enjoy with others or alone for some solo reflection are an obvious choice.

 

Some might choose to hike into the hills with a truffle hunter or take out mountain bikes and cycle to some of the incredible Unesco cultural sites which are on the doorstep. Then a private yoga lesson or guided mediation and an in-room ayurvedic massage. We just recommend taking the time to do what makes your soul happy.

 

There’s an amazing simple truth that when we make better ethical decisions we live better lives and it’s one of the best ways to help the environment. Visiting small boutique retreats like ours support local workers, craftsmen and women, farmers, cheesemakers, artisans and so many more…. and of course allows us to preserve a sustainable farming philosophy for the long term. I’ve learnt from my time here in Italy to slow down, stay consciously and to love things that last.

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The business of eating

The business of eating

THE BUSINESS OF EATING

Our friends in the US recount a fine food & wine dining experience!

GREAT NEW ARTICLE: ITALIAN COUNT DELIGHTS THE CAPE REGION WITH EXCEPTIONAL WINES BY OUR NEW FRIEND, BOB YESBEK.

One of the perks of writing and talking about restaurants is the occasional invitation I receive to attend events that pair food with wine. Or beer. Or bourbon. Or scotch. Or tequila, rum … or even mead. You get the idea – if I attended them all, I’d be in ‘round-the-clock detox. 

But some of these generous invites are hard to turn down, and last weekend’s wine dinner at Fish On was one of those. I was pleased to share a table not only with Italian winemaker, hotelier, restaurateur (and Count) Manfredo di San Bonifacio, but also Paul Karp, whose Vintage Imports company made it possible for us to enjoy Manfredo’s wines here in the United States. SoDel Concepts’ corporate sommelier Mike Zygmonski was in attendance, along with longtime Cape Region entrepreneur, restaurateur – and birthday girl – Alison Blyth. These are the sort of invitations that we lowly scribes dare not turn down. 

Each of the five courses was paired with one of Count Manfredo’s wines, and Fish On Chefs Jen Bradour and Raul Rodriguez spent time tasting the varieties that inspired the creative dishes we enjoyed that night. One of my favorites in the di San Bonifacio lineup is the Prosecco. It has a bright, fruity acidity and a (welcome) lack of sweetness that paired perfectly with a charcuterie plate that featured Jen’s house-made mortadella speckled with whole pistachios. The second course included Manfredo’s clean and crisp Pinot Grigio. It stood boldly nose-to-nose with crunchy mini-turnips dusted with sea salt and surrounded with asparagus, peas and eggs. Both the prosecco and pinot grigio are produced in the Veneto wine region of Italy. Though the area sports an impressive variety of reds, it is also known for refreshing whites such as that sparkling prosecco.

One of my all-time favorites has always been the garnet-hued Monteregio sangiovese (the same grape as chianti classico, but more full-bodied). It was expertly paired by Jen and Raul with a crispy soft-shell crab perched on sweet corn polenta. 

I have to admit that the surprise of the evening was the fourth-course offering of the Sustinet syrah, known as a “Super Tuscan.” The term applies to Tuscan reds that may include non-indigenous grapes like Cabernet or Merlot. The Sustinet hails from a small vineyard in Maremma on the coast of western central Italy. This 94-plus pointer (that’s as close as I will get to stepping on wine columnist John McDonald’s feet!) treats the mouth to a cascade of tastes. It’s difficult for me to finish all the wines that are poured at these dinners, but the Sustinet glass was empty when it was wrested from my trembling paws. The wine was the perfect accompaniment to smoked lamb marinating in a parmesan broth over Lupo’s fresh bucatini. 

SoDel Concepts’ association with the di San Bonifacio family began serendipitously with the late Matt Haley’s choice to enjoy a dinner at a small boutique winery and hotel in Tuscany. Manfredo tells the story best in his delightfully broken English: “A server came up to me and said, ‘There’s an American chef in the dining room who wants to see you.’ My first reaction was to go into the kitchen and ask my chef what he did wrong.” Though Matt did not drink, it turned out that his companion at the time was loving the di San Bonifacio wines. Matt asked Manfredo where he could source the wines in America, and was told that they were not available. 

After a few months, Matt called Manfredo and asked why the wines were still not available stateside, and Manfredo admitted that he didn’t have any contacts with an importer. Matt’s exact words were, “I’ll call you back in 10 minutes.” Manfredo was even more surprised when Matt actually did call him back in 10 minutes. Matt had contacted his friend Paul Karp from Vintage Importers. When Manfredo tells the story, he politely recounts that “Matt reached out to Paul.” Paul’s version is a little different: “Matt TOLD me to import the wines,” he smiles. As the owner and operator of multiple restaurants, Matt was not a shy person. And thanks to his and Paul’s efforts, the popularity of the di San Bonifacio wines has grown around Delaware and now extends into Pennsylvania and New Jersey. As a boutique winemaker, they only produce about 35,000 bottles of reds and another 30,000 to 35,000 bottles between the prosecco and the pinot grigio. In the world of wine, that is a very small production. Hence the word “boutique.” 

One of the stars of the show last week at Fish On was the dessert course. The brainchild of Corporate Pastry Chef Dru Tevis, a strawberry olive oil cake was drizzled with a wine and berry compote, and topped with pistachios, almonds and an amazing dulce crumb redolent of creamy caramel. The Count’s Docet cabernet blended seamlessly with the rollercoaster of taste and texture that Tevis created. 

Count Manfredo’s family has been in Italy for 1,100 years. In fact, records of the very first di San Bonifacio date back to the year 852. Wines were produced and consumed locally, until Manfredo’s generation began to bottle and label them for sale. Thanks to Matt’s last-minute decision to enjoy dinner at a tiny restaurant surrounded by vineyards in Tuscany, all of the SoDel Concepts restaurants carry various di San Bonifacio wines; the entire line can be enjoyed at Lupo Italian Kitchen in downtown Rehoboth Beach.

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A Tuscan affair

A Tuscan affair

A TUSCAN AFFAIR

In-depth review from menstylefashion.com

AUTHORED BY ZIGA COLJA FROM MENSTYLEFASHION.COM

It all starts where the road ends. At the top of a hill, with views as limited as the sea at the end of one’s horizon.

 

This horizon though, overlooking the cypress trees, beholds until it drops into the blue Tuscan waters. Which explains why the climate here is in a zone of its own. One is surrounded by hills with a Mediterranean breeze. Perfect.

Conti di San Bonifacio is a small, privately owned Tuscan Vineyard and Wine Resort Hotel, nestled in the beautiful hills of the Maremma region in Italy.

The estate was purchased by owners Count & Countess, Manfredo & Sarah di San Bonifacio, in 2002. A restoration project began to renovate the old farmhouse that stood on top of the commanding hills, into the beautiful villa that stands today. In 2003, Manfredo & Sarah set to work to plant 7 hectares of vines on the estate grounds in order to achieve their dream of producing Organic Super-Tuscan Wines.

Conti di San Bonifacio now produces three hand-crafted organic wines, from a mixture of varietals planted on the estate, including Sangiovese, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, with the first harvest in 2006.

The Restaurant

The Restaurant at Conti di San Bonifacio Wine Resort offers Tuscan cooking at its finest. We source all of our ingredients locally, and support the practices of sustainable farming and agriculture. The cuisine we offer within the resort combines a respect of the local ingredients and traditions with an innovative twist, with a continuous search for products at zero km.

We grow our own herbs on the property, press our own olive oil from our olive groves, and make our own organic wine from our vineyard. Our cooking reflects the spirit of tradition in which the raw material is enhanced by a permanent respect of natural flavours, the research of old recipes in which we inspire our new creations and the willingness of always improving ourselves. Read the full review here.

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3 romantic places for a low-key romantic getaway

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3 romantic places for a low-key romantic getaway

Nailing the perfect wedding is deeply personal, especially when
you’re leaving the twelve-piece band and two (or three) digit guest list.
Spontaneity certainly breeds romance, but a journey into the chapel
open 24 hours a day is not the only way to escape. Choosing to do a wedding for two means
to say putting completely the love you have for each other at the center; this moment becomes
100% yours and does not stop you from having a party with family and friends on your return.
It is also an opportunity to “skip” some extra costs and indulge in the luxury of
things that matter to you: your dream wedding, the dress you really want
and perhaps one of the sublime places below.

Nailing the perfect wedding is deeply personal, especially when you’re leaving the twelve-piece band and two (or three) digit guest list.
Spontaneity certainly breeds romance, but a journey into the chapel open 24 hours a day is not the only way to escape. Choosing to do a wedding for two means to say putting completely the love you have for each other at the center; this moment becomes 100% yours and does not stop you from having a party with family and friends on your return.
It is also an opportunity to “skip” some extra costs and indulge in the luxury of things that matter to you: your dream wedding, the dress you really want and perhaps one of the sublime places below.

GAVORRANO - TOSCANA

CDSB is a Wine & Wellness Retreat nestled in the beautiful hills of the Tuscan Maremma. Seven exclusive rooms built by local artisans carefully selected by Countess Sarah of San Bonifacio to fully represent the traditional Tuscan style. Spacious rooms with terracotta floors and wooden beams are finely furnished with natural fabrics such as linen. The view over the vineyards and the olive grove make Conti di San Bonifacio a unique place, perfect for a small wedding whether it’s just the two of you or you want to invite your family too. Do you want something special? Say yes in front of the vastness of the vineyards and the Tuscan countryside.

VERONA - VENETO

One of the perfect places to escape to Italy is certainly Verona, the city of the North, synonymous with romance, love, history and famous for its beautiful romantic and typically Italian touch. Verona offers many memorable places for weddings and unforgettable romantic getaways in Italy. For example, a civil wedding in Verona can take place in Juliet’s famous house, a few meters from the beautiful and ancient Piazza delle Erbe. Juliet’s house is the house where the beautiful Juliet lived and records the famous lines of Shakespeare’s tragedy in the play of Romeo and Juliet. However, civil weddings can also take place in selected beautiful private villas or in charming estates in the Veronese countryside.

CAPRI - CAMPANIA

Capri is known throughout the world for being a beautiful and elegant holiday destination. An island made of limestone rocks with infinite charm loved by Roman emperors, rich and famous personalities, artists and writers. It is still one of the must-see places in the Mediterranean. You can organize an intimate civil ceremony at the Belvedere della Migliara. The place is located at the end of the famous Belvedere della Migliara walk, a narrow path that starts from the center of Anacapri. It stretches 2 km towards the south-western coast of the island, between vineyards and green meadows. At the end of the route, the Belvedere del Tuono is one of the most beautiful panoramic points of Capri, with a spectacular view of the Faraglioni, the lighthouse of Punta Carena and the vast blue expanse of the Mediterranean. Aren’t you already in love with it?

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Dreaming of Tuscany

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Dreaming of Tuscany

8 Reasons to come back after Lockdown

As we all speculate madly the reopening of our borders and our personal freedoms it is impossible not to daydream about where we’ll go when all of this is over.

Here in Italy it looks as if international travel could be seriously limited for most of us in 2020 and holidays in our beloved country will be the order of the day. While we’ll be ready to jet off to faraway places when we can travel overseas again, our time in isolation has given us a new appreciation of the beauty spots found right on our doorstep. One place we’re dreaming of retreating to is Tuscany and to help you along we’ve come up with 8 reasons why Tuscany might fit the bill for your first adventure outside of the four walls of your city apartment.

Click on the playlist I’ve put together below to really feel the vibe…

  1. Open Spaces After time spent in close quarters with our families we are all begging for space-both inside and out. Our souls need restorative calm and comfort at the same time. We also know that maintaining safe distances will be critical now to prevent a second peak. Choosing more remote locations in the middle of small farming areas away from big cities will keep us safe and allow us to retreat without worry. Open skies, landscapes and deserted roads are on our shortlist of must-haves.

2. Immersing ourselves in Nature The unspoilt reserves and bountiful nature, combined with the warm hospitality, offers the perfect post-lockdown remedy to ‘re-wild’ and get back to nature. Gentle hikes, bike rides, yoga on your terrace or a lazy walk on an unspoilt beach are what we need to offset weeks of shifting sands and uncertainty. We want to unplug and tap into the simplicity of local life.

 3. We can drive there…and bring your dog How much do we love throwing our bags, kids and the dog in the car and heading off? As much as a trip overseas takes us out of ourselves, the flight can often zero us when it comes to travel stress. The simplicity of travel with the family and a car loaded up with everything we need is actually a godsend. And our children and our dogs need the countryside as much as we do.

4. Clean living, eating and drinking Getting back to our core values will be a priority for many of us. We’re all feeling” less than” after lockdown so making sure that whatever break we choose gives us the chance to nurture ourselves with organic food and drink and a farm to plate ethos Spending a few days being taken care of with wines, olive oils and regional foods which are all sourced locally is good for the body and for the heart. Plus, at its centre the best travel experiences are full of tastes, smells and connections of the senses. Its self care at its best and supports our local Tuscan artisans who have been hit the hardest during the crisis.

5. Making our money go a little further All of us have felt the hardship of the lockdown and how it has affected the Italian economy and our own pockets. Many of our own Italian businesses won’t survive and this is particularly true for those in Tourism. However, some are offering incentives to encourage us to support them while they help us at the same time. In addition, most Hotels are offering 100% flexibility for any bookings made right now. #booknowstaylater is the advice from many travel experts and by doing so we’re helping small boutique businesses get through a tough time. 

6. The Air is Clean in Tuscany Every day I check Il Meteo and I see the lightest azzure colour indicating the almost perfect air quality. Knowing that clean air is central to staying well during Covid makes me really think about where I want to spend time in the future when I have a chance to escape. Tuscany’s air quality and untouched landscapes resonate with our need for deep down healthy living-this is one of the new luxuries we will all be demanding. No doubt we will want to eat beneath the trees, gaze at a sunset and sip a glass of something exquisite al fresco. Its the lifeblood of our country.

7. The Wine….oh the Wine Vineyards stretching out beyond our gaze, a glass of rounded, red gorgeousness at our lips is something which echoes from our ancestors and draws us with a hypnotic pull to Tuscany time and time again. There’s nothing quite like your Tuscan aperitivo as the swallows fly overhead and the day comes to a balmy close. Wine experiences and tastings take you deeper and closer to the earth which produces some of our best vintages and olive oils. Don’t forget that this Summer we’ll have it all to ourselves without the tourists. Heaven!

8. Staying consciously It’s not enough anymore to check-in, chill and check out. We’re looking for a curated stay and a transformative experience. This holds true even with a short break close to home, but we don’t want to sacrifice quality. Service for many of us simply means someone listening to our needs and meeting them with personal attention, care and kindness. After such a huge shift in our lives where we have lost so many of our routines and in-person connections, we are feeling a deep deficit of self-care and grounding. Making sure we choose destinations with an ethical philosophy around the personal wellbeing of guests is a high priority for anyone coming to terms with the last few months. Where better than Tuscany to slow down, stay mindfully and heal in a safe sanctuary you can trust.

To reserve your private hideaway at Conti di San Bonifacio Wine and Wellness where you can recharge and rebalance in one of our seven suites #booknowstaylater.

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Master winemaker list 100

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Master winemaker list 100

BY THE DRINK BUSINESS

Q&A WITH OWNER AND WINEMAKER

SARAH DI SAN BONIFACIO

Q
What or who inspired you to become a winemaker?

A

I fell into wine making, just like I fell in love with Italy. The project was at its heart born out of a need to balance my busy life in London when I was at Goldman Sachs in the late 90’s. My husband to be, Manfredo, took me to Tuscany and it felt like heaven on earth. It took another 10 years and a lot of hard work in the City to have the courage to leave my job and devote myself full time to running and building out the Conti di San Bonifacio estate in Tuscany. Working in nature, creating organic wines and olive oils, feels like I’ve finally aligned passion and purpose.

Q
What’s your favourite part of the job?

A

Surprisingly, owning a Winery and a Wine Hotel is actually many jobs in one. Every day of the week is different. I can be immersed in vineyard and cantina, working closely with our oenologists or I’m in the office running the business.  I love the contrast and the freedom to choose who I work with. We have a great team of people working at CDSB. They inspire me!

Q
What’s the hardest part?

A

Without hesitation, I would say the heavy administrative burden imposed on businesses here in Italy. To an English woman used to working in the UK, the barriers to success the Italians impose on themselves are mind-boggling. Bottom line our internal standards are exacting and exceed the requirements from the state. As a result on top of everything we do to operate at the highest level there is a constant and confusing matrix of permissions, standards, taxes and regulations which we spend a huge amount of time trying to navigate.

Q
What’s your go-to drink at the end of a long day?

A

Well, that depends on the season. When I need a glass of pure, velvet comfort, I’ll open a bottle of our Sustinet IGT, our Super Tuscan Syrah. During our hot, Italian Summers, I’m reaching for a chilled glass of the CDSB Monteregio DOC. It’s a special example of the indigenous Sangiovese we’ve lovingly aged in second year oak. I love it on ice.

Q
If you could give your younger self advice when starting out as a winemaker,
what would it be?

A

I would tell her to be more confident in herself. When you start out you believe everyone knows better than you and you’re just inundated with advice, particularly as a young woman. But my intuition and common sense have served me very well and I’ve learnt to follow my heart and choose the advice I take very carefully.

Q
What has been your greatest winemaking mistake?

A

Gosh, one makes mistakes all of the time. Wine making has hugely unpredictable variables which catch the best of us out-the weather is just one of them. But the important thing is that I learn from what happens and teach my team to do the same. Actually, we wouldn’t have had the success we’ve experienced without failing a few times. As a team we are constantly renovating processes to eliminate errors and allow the wines to more fully reflect our terroir year after year.

Q
What wine-related achievement are you most proud of and why?

A

It has to be that we took on this beautiful estate in an untouched part of Tuscany and created a certified organic Winery and Retreat. My passion is to be ethical and sustainable in the way we care for the land and create these gorgeous wines. When we won the Gold Medal for the 2008 Sustinet IGT and then second-best Syrah in the world I knew our holistic and disciplined approach had captured the essence of this Tuscan soil. Pure magic!

Q
Who is your inspiration in the wine world today?

A

We get so much inspiration from organic wineries and sustainable farming practices the world over. We love reaching out beyond Italy to check out what others are doing at the forefront of making clean wines full of character. It’s so cool to see how others are getting the word out there to their audiences. We try to be humble-there’s always so much you can learn.

Q
Where would your fantasy vineyard be?

A

Exactly where it is. We wouldn’t want to change a thing about our location. There is nothing like checking in to our Wine and Wellness Retreat on the estate, sitting on the White Terrace while sipping a glass as your eyes stretch across our vineyards out to the horizon. It’s a place in a million. Just read the reviews!

Q
If you weren’t a winemaker, what would you be doing and why?

A

I’m also an environmentalist. Everything we do works to the same philosophy, from our olive groves and extra virgin olive oils to the Kitchen Garden which serves the Maremmana Restaurant on property. At its roots, great wine is all about caretaking the land for future generations. I’m fascinated by what else we can grow here on the estate and we’re currently working on a Food Forest project with an inspirational group of women. Connecting with others outside of the wine world, which can be very privileged and male, in this complimentary and symbiotic way feels really fresh and accessible. 

Q
Which wine (grape/style) do you find it impossible to get along with?

A

Sauvignon Blanc-just can’t stand it.

Q
How has your taste in wine changed over your career?

A

Wine is a journey. When you’re young and just starting out, you’re exploring and experimenting. I suppose as I get older and drink a little less, any glass needs to be pretty great. So, that could be a Conti di San Bonifacio Super Tuscan or one of my husband’s French Bordeaux from his cellar. But as we know a great wine can come in different guises so I try to keep an open mind and taste as many as I can.