When is a field of wildflowers in southern Tuscany actually a vineyard? When it is under the care of Antonella Manuli! Following the patented “Metodo Corino” which she developed with Lorenzo Corino (in memoriam),  for this new vineyard, which she planned with Lorenzo before he died, Antonella first mowed the grass  on the hillside, then seeded it with a legume to add nitrogen, then letting it go for two years before planting root stalk in February 2023.  You have to search the ground closely to see the baby vines nestled among the native grasses and flowers but they are there, sending down roots in the volcanic soil of this area of Maremma in Southern Tuscany and gaining strength with plenty of rain this year as well as sunshine. Normally by June these wildflowers would be gone and all the green turned brown! 

When they are ready, Antonella plans to graft the rootstock with Sangiovese, the locally native red grape of Tuscany, in keeping with the Metodo Corino which celebrates native grapes as one of its eight principles which you’ll find on the labels of more recent bottlings (see below).

Two weeks ago, I visited on one of the first sunny days in months. After years of drought, the Maremma, as well as most of Italy, experienced epic, torrential rains in spring of 2023. Some of La Maliosa’s vineyards also had devastating hail storms in May which decimated the flowers and vines, destroying the 2023 crop in those vineyards, and reducing her overall harvest by half.   Of course later that day we visited it rained — almost half an inch in about an hour in some of the vineyards, Antonella reported to us the next day.

The vineyards that experienced devastating hail storms in May are bouncing back vigorously, and will be in good shape for 2024, thanks to the regenerative agricultural practices of the Metodo Corino. 

La Maliosa is one of the wineries I wrote about for my award winning article last year on regenerative agriculture, so I was super excited to finally see it and experience it in person. Located on 165 hectares (over 400 acres) in southern Tuscany, of which only a small amount is under vine and olive trees, the farm produces organic vegan wines using the patented method “Metodo Corino” which she developed with Lorenzo Corino. In person. you can feel, see, and smell how healthy the soil is. 

Antonella also keeps bees, makes award winning olive oil, grows hay for mulch, and, using grants, is building a new cellar, and transforming old stone structures on the property into places to stay over as well as a tasting room.

Currently you can stay in one of four ”Stars Box” on the property or nearby is the more luxurious “The Nest” a lovely two bedroom, two bathroom apartment (link to details and booking). The “nest” is actually quite large— the photo shows my bedroom at night. The space has a second bedroom with a desk, and large second bathroom. In between the two large bedrooms are closets and a washer. There’s a comfy couch in a living room area and a table for six in the sunny kitchen that opens to sweet smelling jasmine and morning sunlight. The entire space is clean, bright, and beautifully devoted to create a peaceful quiet sanctuary. 

In addition to growing wine grapes organically using the vegan Metodo Corino, Antonella grows her olive trees following the same regenerative farming principles. She invites the public to the farm to taste wine and olive oil, and for various other experiences last week La Maliosa won an important Italian award for olive oil tourism. A hiking trail near one of the Star Boxes takes you on a trip through the olive trees.

The wines are award winning as well: VinePair selected one as the top 15 orange wines in the world. Lucky me, Antonella sent me home with a bottle which I plan to share with Sue and Terry with a menu inspired by Antonella’s Saturnalia Wine Bar. 

And speaking of Saturnalia Wine Bar: should you find yourself in southern Tuscany, perhaps soaking in the thermal hot springs enjoyed by ancient Romans thousands of years ago, you must stop for sustenance at the Saturnalia Wine Bar located in Saturnia. The food is fabulous — and so are the wines from Fattoria La Maliosa which you can purchase by the glass or the bottle to pair with your food! 

Our meal started out with a selection of appetizers, and a favorite is this fried herbed pillow of chickpea flour called “cecina” which comes from the Italian word “ceci” meaning chickpeas. We also had a Tuscan version pork meatballs, a common, local street food, which were so light and fluffy.

I then sampled a beautiful soufflé of purple cauliflower and pecorino (the image with the yellow flower) which I hope Sue can recreate thanks to the recipe shared with me by chef Francesca Corsetti, followed by eggplant parmesan. Every bite was beautiful and delicious, and the vegetarian in our group appreciated the many choices.

It’s easy to eat healthy here! With lunch, we enjoyed a 100% Procanico wine called “Uni” (read what we said about this wine before).

Our first day focused on the original 165 hectare estate with its hilly terrain, Star Boxes, woods, and olive trees plus lunch at Saturnalia on the plaza in Saturnia; if you go, be sure to explore the plaza to see the ancient Roman relics — Romans built this town 3000 years ago!

On our second day, we ventured with Antonella across the river to property she farms organically following the principles of Metodo Corino with baby vines and older ones on volcanic soil. Fortunately this area wasn’t hit by hail, so if all continues to go well, she should have a good harvest here. After visiting the vineyards (top three photos), we tasted the wines in the tasting room — and enjoyed a spread of local charcuterie, quiche made by Francesca, and olive oil from Antonella’s trees.

After visiting the vineyards, I was struck at how I could taste the land in the wines– the herbs growing on the ground around the vines come through in the aromas and on the palate. Remarkable! 

Many more stories to share! But if you can’t wait, read more about Antonella’s olive oil, and how to taste olive oil here. To explore more about Tuscany from the Italian Food Wine Travel group of wine writers:

• Camilla of Culinary Cam shares “Polpo in Galera (Jailed Octopus) + La Lastra Vernaccia 2021” 
• Robin of Crushed Grape Chronicles talks about “The wines of the Florentines – Chianti Rufina and single vineyard wines from I Veroni“
• Jennifer of Vino Travels takes “A hop, skip and a jump out of Florence to Chianti Rufina with I Veroni” 
• Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm enjoys “A casual bottle of Cetamura Chianti on the deck“
• Gwendolyn of Wine Predator finds “Paradise in Tuscany: Organic Farming at Antonella Manuli’s Fattoria La Maliosa”

Talk about Tuscany in a Live Twitter Chat Sat July 1 11 a.m. ET and 8 a.m. Pacific via #ItalianFWT with host Wendy Klik; read more here. 

• 11:00 a.m. EST  
• Welcome to the #ItalianFWT  chat celebrating Tuscany. Introduce yourself, and where you are tweeting from. Share a link to your blog if applicable. 
• 11:05 a.m. EST
• Q1 Tuscany is famous for the art and architecture of Florence, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Island of Elba and the Apennine Mountains, not to mention the Food and Wine.  Have you visited? Please share your highlights. #ItalianFWT
• 11:10 a.m. EST
• Q2 Tuscany is best known for the wines from Chianti but they do grow many varietals.  What wine did you open today for #ItalianFWT?
• 11:15 a.m. EST
• Q3 What can you tell us about the winery you chose?  Why did you choose this particular wine? #ItalianFWT
•  11:20 a.m. EST
• Q4 Did you pair your wine with food?  What did you choose to serve?  Was it a successful pairing?  #ItalianFWT 
•  11:25 a.m. EST
• Q5  Tuscany is also famous for olive oil.  Have you tried any from the area?  How did it compare to other olive oil’s you have enjoyed? #ItalianFWT
• 11:30 a.m. EST
• Q6 Many movies and books are based in Tuscany.  Do you have a favorite film or novel to which you find yourself returning?  #ItalianFWT 
• 11:35 a.m. EST
• Q7 Tuscany is famous for Pappardelle, Bistecca, Salami, Pecorino Cheese, White Beans and Tripe.  What is your favorite food from this area?  ItalianFWT 
• 11:40 a.m. EST
• Q8 Foods that grow together go together is a very popular adage and easy to adhere to especially when the area is as food and wine abundant as Tuscany.  Do you agree with this adage?  What are some of your favorite Tuscan pairings?  #ItalianFWT
• 11:45 a.m. EST
• Q9  Shout out to the  #ItalianFWT members who joined our event this month. @culinary_cam, @CrushGrapeChron, @VinoTravels21
• 11:50 a.m. EST
• Q10  Any final thoughts about Tuscany?  #ItalianFWT
• 11:55 a.m. EST
• Next month (August 2023) #ItalianFWT members are looking at the wines of Emilia Romagna and Liguria  hosted by our group founder @VinoTravels21.   Please join us. 
• 12:00 p.m. EST
• Thanks again for joining in today’s #ItalianFWT chat.  See you again next month.