Archive for March 2013
MÁTÉ’S WINES: SYNONYMOUS OF HARMONY
One thing that we always say to our clients is to follow their instinct because they are their best guide for their holidays in Tuscany. At Borgo Grondaie we love to give suggestions but to those who seem most curious and not at all frightened by the Italian roads and by our reckless way of driving, we suggest to become discoverers. This is because the beauty of a trip is the surprise, not all can be planned and written by others. You need to create your personal holiday in order to make it more emotional.
It may happen that suggestions comes from guests after their experience and discoveries as David, an Australian guest & friend, who suggested a tour in the Brunello area for a visit to Máté winery.
So my partner, my son and I enjoyed a day out in the wonderful Montalcino land. Paul, who knows wines from a professional point of view, would have been judge for what we were going to taste. I confess that I love wines and I love to drink wines but my palate is not so improved to the harmonious mechanisms of wine.
At the arrival at Máté we met Candice, owner and painter who bought the property twenty years ago together with her husband-writer, transforming their shelter-inspiration in beautiful winery.
I have written the word harmony in the title because this was the first impression entering the property. Their beautiful home surrounded by greenery and well-groomed gardens harmoniously blend into Tuscan ambiance, shows owners’ respect to the place that has hosted them. Candice seems born here as she is at ease with the property. She showed us their little cellar, we spent time talking about their vineyards and how the various types of soil presented inside their borders have influenced the choice of the various varieties apart from San Sangiovese grosso used for the production of Brunello.
Candice organized the tasting in her kitchen. The table ready with bottles, the fireplace, brick walls and the marble kitchen sink made the atmosphere surreal! Candice had prepared five of their wines. I was immediately struck by the beauty of the artistic labels while wine perfumes filled our glasses.
All wines tasted were of the highest level. They were harmonious, extremely pleasant with complex aromas, very attractive, surely loved by connoisseurs as by simple wine lovers.
Do you want to discover more? … Máté waits for you!
Posted in Borgotip, Things to do in Siena | 
Tags: Brunello, Mate, siena, tasting, wine | 
No Comments »
NEW YEAR IN SIENA a dive into the Past
Yes! In Siena, we celebrate the New Year also on March 25!
The modern calendar comes from Pope Gregory XIII ‘s will who adopted a single rule for measuring time. Think about how it could be to use a different calendar in our world! Before 1582 in Siena, the New Year was celebrated on March 25 because it matched the day of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary. On same date it took place the Feast of the ancient Hospital and of its church which was dedicated to the Virgin of the Annunciation. For that day Siena municipality donated votive candles, presented barn workers and expose religious relics in the Chapel of the Vow.
This year Siena celebrates “his” New Year on March 25 with the following program:
4.30 pm meeting of the historical parade and city authorities in the church of SS. Annunziata
5 pm procession from the church of SS. Announced to the Public Palace in Piazza del Campo
5.30 inside the Public Palace LECTIO MAGISTRALIS proclaimed by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi.
posted by www.hotelsienaborgogrondaie.com
RICE FRITTERS
Hi everybody!
As promised, Hotel Borgo Grondaie is going to reveal the sweet recipe for RICE FRITTERS!
Regarding our tradition in Siena, we use to eat these fritters during the Father’s Day……they are really delicious.
Here the recipe:
Cook the rice slowly for several hours adding a pinch of salt. As it cooks, it releases starch becoming very creamy. Add candied orange peel to sweeten the mixture, than mix with flour to thicken enough to hold its shape. Form balls of the rice mixture, fry in hot olive oil and dust freely with sugar when still hot.
Source: from the Book: “ I Luoghi del Gusto a Siena ”
Posted by: www.hotelsienaborgogrondaie.com
The Cathedral of Siena: from 6 April the “Cathedral sky” will be open to visitors
It took months of work but on April the 6th the Cathedral of Siena opens its attics that were never opened to the public.
With an experienced guide you walk spiral staircases almost hidden from visitors’ view and in small groups you are taken over the vaulted stars of the right aisle. From there it begins a journey where view range from inside to outside the cathedral. You can visit Ulisse De Matteis windows with the representation of the Apostles and the gallery where you can admire the view on the main altar. From the left aisle visitors can admire a breathtaking view of the Basilica of San Domenico, the Medici Fortress and the entire cupola of St. John the Baptist.
Much more is to discover if you decide to participate in an event of historical and emotional impact like no other, organized by Opera – Civita Group
For information www.operaduomo.siena.it
Posted by: www.hotelsienaborgogrondaie.com
Posted in Art in Siena, Borgo Grondaie suggests you, Events in Tuscany | Tags: cathedral, Duomo, Siena Art | No Comments »
March 19th – Father’s Day.
A special greeting to all daddies in the world from Hotel Siena Borgo Grondaie!
In Italy and in many other Catholic countries, Father’s Day is celebrated on March 19th, the day dedicated to St. Joseph, Jesus ‘father. Being a model of devoted husband and father, St. Joseph is also recognized as a protector of orphans, poor and bachelors.
For Anglo-Saxon peoples this special day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June and has no religious facet. In some Monarchies Father’s Day coincides with reigning king’s birthday, while in other countries the date is associated with the celebration of men who had a significant role in the history (in Russia, for example, the festival coincides with the one dedicated to the defenders of the country).
Father’s Day has pagan traditions origin. March 19th is a date very close to spring equinox when, in ancient Rome, people dedicated Baccanali to Bacchus. The other tradition was to burn previous harvest residual as a rite of purification. In some regions this tradition is still widespread.
Each region of our country celebrates St. Joseph with a typical sweet as bignè, donuts or “zeppole”…. Siena have the tasty “ frittelle di riso”(small sweet balls made of rice)…. but we’ll talk about the recipe next time!
Source: Wikipedia
Posted by: www.hotelsienaborgogrondaie.com
DISCOVER SIENA CONTRADE THANKS TO #UNTERZOCIASCUNO
Write about Siena where I was born and grown up should have been a very easy operation but nothing could be harder for me!
If it is true that human beings are made of history and environment, in the blood of Sieneses flows “Contrada” . Many of you may think of the sheer excitement of a Sienese who wants to beatify her city and its citizens but it is not true. If you’re reading this post as future visitors, my intent would be to open your eyes to things that are not visible and clear at first glance. The Contrade of Siena have mutual tasks from their early days, they were the reference point of a community that, in old times identified itself with a trade corporation that lived and worked in a specific area within medieval city walls, what you can identify as “neighborhood.” Siena is devided in 17 parties (Contrade) and each of them is the reference point for Siena citizens of all ages. Each contrada has a headquarters where carry out activities all year round: a bar, fully equipped kitchens, green spaces, and then museums, churches … all survive thanks to the volunteers. If that is not enough, think that the Contrade intervene in protection of monuments within their territory, the defense of pushovers. The beauty and richness of their sites and museums is immeasurable and therefore I recommend you a guided tour. The visit must be booked in advance and the cost is ridiculous for the experience that will derive.
Thanks to blogtour organized by Borgo Grondaie #unterzociscuno I had the honor to visit two Contrade and their museums. The photos that I show you are a small summary!
