Coming up from Baccaiano, along the Provincial Volterrana road towards Montespertoli, the Sonnino Castle with its thirteenth-century tower stands out on the hill to our left.
We continue to the main square, park and then walk up to the town hall square. We ask for information. The gentleman we asked is kind, but also a bit stunned:
- Just walk ten meters down that road and find it in front … – He tells us.
The entrance to the inn is sweet and smells of old and familiar: no frills and no pretentiousness.
Anna welcomes us. Kind, caring and confident. I tell you: in times when the bombardment of advertising – by TV, mail, by telephone call, by depiants left in the mailbox – makes everyone nervous (I can be really unfriendly on the phone), Anna welcomes us, invites us inside; we are visibly not customers for lunch ( it is afternoon) nor wine buyers; we have not yet presented ourselves and she does not know why we are here and she is already offering us some Vin Santo. I am amazed and refreshed.
We arrived without warning. We took advantage of the sunny day and … go.
Montespertoli is in Val di Pesa, on the edge of Chianti. Wine area par excellence. here at Castello Sonnino they make wine, they do it well. Their Vin Santo has won many awards. There is Tuscany inside: it enters the nose and the flavor is the persistent one of the green hills. Straightforward, no superfluity, but full and rich in the aromas it must have.
Anna, who is the sister of the famous chocolatier from Pisa, takes us on a very private tour of the cellars.
We start with the Vinsantaia, which is under the roof. Inside, ancient tools, almost a small museum.
The Vinsantaia dates back to 1600, has large open windows protected by a net to prevent the passage of animals and birds. It is here that the late harvest grapes are transported and dried on large racks arranged in levels between the posts.
The procedure is carried out as per tradition.
They are called castles: they are the wooden scaffolding, with vertical poles with holes, on which the racks are placed. Here at Castello Sonnino the racks are placed at a distance, at least 4 or 5 separation “holes”, to allow a greater passage of air.
These cellars are on the ground floor of the house dating back to 1300.
Why am I here today? Because Castello Sonnino wines will be present at the “A TAVOLA CON DANTE ALIGHIERI” event organized by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Lyon, France. The event will take place on June 14th and I have been invited as a representative Chef. Is not it fantastic? you will soon have more news ……….
Thanks to the Sonnino Castle and to Anna de Bondt who left the work she was doing to accompany us with elegance on this improvised tour. I hope to return soon and sit at the tables outside among the ancient roses and fragrant rosemary to enjoy a meal prepared by her.
Marcella Ansaldo ©