Tuscany is the main source of inspiration here at Foods of Florence, both in atmosphere and in our cooking approach, which is always season driven and inspired by everyday, unfussed recipes. At the end of last year, as we were approaching the 4th anniversary of our Florence-based culinary collective, we decided to launch a new wine tasting series, The Other Side of Tuscany, which debuted in December.
We gathered around the table with a bunch of amazing people and great food; our friend Nino Cardinale (who happens to be a fantastic sommelier) led an incredible wine tasting which took us through the lesser-known Tuscan wine regions. We started with a white wine, a deliciously fresh Pomino DOC with strong mineral notes and well-integrated tannins. This first white was served with traditional crostini toscani (chicken liver paté crostini) – although unconventional (crostini toscani are often served with red Chianti Classico), this pairing proved that food and wine coming from the same region tend to complement each other beautifully.
Next was a red from Maremma, Ciliegiolo Belvento, which is made at one of the most fascinating and architecturally-innovative wineries in Tuscany, Petra. Nino paired this Maremma red wine with pasta e ceci. Because of its refreshing character, Ciliegiolo was the ideal companion for our hearty primo piatto, which we topped with a generous amount of salty pecorino romano cheese.
Our last wine of the tasting was a Bolgheri 2016 DOC from Tenuta Argentiera. Nino paired it with a traditional Sunday dish: arista con patate. Thanks to its lively acidity and vibrant aromas, this Bolgheri wine was able to simultaneously embrace and highlight the richness of the Tuscan pork roast.
To finish, we served homemade pine nut cookies, accompanied by a glass of Ronchi Pichi, our favorite Florence-made liquorous wine.
The energy of our guests – an eclectic group of musicians, writers, photographers and engineers – mixed with the coziness of the setting beautifully captured the essence of our monthly gatherings. There’s truly nothing more comforting than celebrating in good company around the dining table.
Photos | Alexandra Means
Wine Selection & Tasting | Nino Cardinale
Styling | Alexandra Means & Gaia Cozzi
Menu & Food | Gaia Cozzi