“While Nature Awakens” – behind the scenes

Every January is a fresh start here at Giuseppina’s Cooking School; as nature stirs, we get ready for a new year brimming with fantastic recipes, delicious homemade preserves, and exquisite Chianti wine straight from our vineyards.

The air is buzzing with excitement here, and as Giuseppina gets ready to welcome and delight her guests this season with new kitchen tricks and tips on her Tuscan recipes, we’re about to start preparing our vineyards for a fantastic harvest year of fresh, wonderful wine that will perfectly complement our local dishes.

Harvest is just the final act of a long year

Since nature can’t wait, the perfect moment has arrived for us to tend to our vines, ensuring they give us their best rewards. It’s a moment of deep devotion, focusing on the vine’s new vegetative growth, just as we would with one of our homemade pasta dishes or bread. We begin by “kneading” the soil just enough to allow it to breathe after a long, cold winter. Then, we add the “spices” (winter fertilizer) that will help the vine’s heart grow its best harvest, giving the wine that perfect blend of flavors that makes Chianti wine famous and loved worldwide. Now, we’re almost done, and we start trimming the vine, restoring its shape. It’s probably the most important part of the work because a clean-shaped vine means a richer harvest. As an old saying goes, once a vine told its owner:

“fammi povera e ti farò ricco”

(Keep me poor -of unwanted trims- and I will make you rich -of the best grapes-).

The vine is a symbol of abundance, representing love for the land in the form of grapes. To create the best wine, it requires a deep passion and unwavering perseverance, fully utilizing the incredible qualities that Chianti’s land offers.

The wine harvest and tasting are the culmination of a year of dedicated effort and care, which we’re excited to share with our guests. We aim to take them beyond the typical tourist spots, beyond just a simple wine tasting or a casual visit to the vineyards, offering them a genuine experience of growing Chianti vines and becoming part of the story.

We’re here to provide them with the authentic experience of Chianti vine cultivation, making them an integral part of the journey.