[CUISINE ADAGIO] - Casamonti, Pretty pigs, Chianti wine + Olive Oil

The hill town of Castellina in Chianti is a 'jewel' with ancient underground corridors (see photo) where religious ceremonies were conducted in Medieval times. More recently they have been used for cantinas, small bars and eateries. A few kilometres out of town, we visited a superb example of agricultural purism - Casamonti owned by Raymonde Lamonthe and his wife Anna Rita. They specialise in olive oil, Chianti wine and Cinta Senese pigs, a very special breed which they have saved from extinction.

The olive oil is produced from 4 olive varieties.

Leccino, Moraiolo, Correggiolo, Pendolino ( all of these produce some olives on their own but really need a male plant called a Pollinator "Impollinatore") and the variety generally planted in Tuscany is Maurino. NB - when a specialized olive grove such as this one, is planted with olive trees set at 5 meters apart from each other so the ground can be worked easily, it takes a bit of programming ahead of time. Olive trees flower in late May to mid June, so you need to calculate where the prevailing winds come from in that period and you need to make sure you plant the various Maurino pollinators up wind of the rest of the olive trees. The wind will carry the pollen to the flowers of the other trees and you will get a good quantity of olives. Neat, huh? Why am I telling you all of this? Well, the resulting EVOO is sublime! It is so rich and fruity you really want to drink it!

Thank you Raymonde and Anna Rita for your dedication to pure produce.

As for the Chianti wine, once again no short cuts - and to qualify for CHIANTI the Sangiovese grape must be at least 60 % dominant.

The reserve from 2012 was my favourite - rich like chocolate and liquorice. Accompanied by prosciutto Cinta Senese - we were in gastronomic heaven. ! The 2012 blend was Loredana's favourite. Don't worry - we have arranged a supply of the wine and olive oil for our special friends and clients back in Australia. Also we will include a visit to Casamonti in next Summer's program in Tuscany. CIAO a tutti ! Stay hungry.