On the Gorgona Island located off the Tuscany coast in Italy the prisoners work in the vineyard to produce among 2700 and 3000 bottles per year. This wine is then being sold at about fifty euros per bottle to several well-known restaurants praising the incredible taste of it. Moreover, you can find it in one of the best restaurants in Florence, rated three stars by the Michelin Guide.

This prison on the Island was founded in 1969 and has been functioning in almost complete isolation from the continent since. It counts forty prisoners who are not wine growers but real bandits and outriders convicted of murder.

The Gorgona Island prisoners are paid by the Marquesi Francesco de Frescobaldi, a 700-year-old wine-grower dynasty, participating in the “reintegration by agriculture” program.

Planted in 1999 on the rich mineral soils of the smallest Tuscany Archipelago island, 37 kilometers off the Livorno port, the vineyard occupies 2,5 acres (1 hectare) facing east.

Abandoned for some time, the vineyard was brought back to life in 2009 by a sicilian prisoner – wine grower, who left his place after serving his sentence to other prisoners sharing the same passion for the vineyards.

A reintegration program where the vineyard gives as much as it receives,

In Vino Veritas …

(photo: copyright Alessandro Bianchi, Reuters)

L’article From Penal Colony to Paradise est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

Lets avoid stereotypes, and let’s be reasonable, at least as close as possible to real flavors that are in accordance with each other’s tastes. We all have a “world champion” but lets remain realistic. There are oils that are above all others, incredible, excellent, mind blowing and as usual for all such exceptional products, extremely rare! If we had to establish a prize award of these unique, above board oils a podium would emerge. Italy would find itself on the highest step, with an extra virgin oil of incredible quality, with an intense and spicy taste and the flavor of fresh olives. It’s the Domenica Fiore Olio Riserva, certified organic oil created by Iudith Bérard.
On the second step we find again, Italy, with an extra virgin oil, of great density, a fresh and herbaceous aroma, with an ample taste with a strong touch of spices and a certain bitterness, thus creating an excellent harmony of aromatic notes. This oil is the Villa Magra Grand Cru from Frantoio Franci. And once again Italy is on the third step of our podium with another oil from Frantoio Franci, the Moraioli, which is astounding as far as the flavors go, with a great intensity of bitter and spicy flavors. The taste is ample and with complex notes, the after taste is herbaceous reminding us of artichokes. Chicory and almonds dominate the herbaceous notes lingering for a long time with a well-balanced aromatic taste. Around the world there are numerous olive oil producers: Spain, France and also recently countries such as New Zealand and Australia and other exotic countries.

However the same as wine, the knowhow is unique, and only the weight of years of experience can bring such perfection in the production of a “Grand Crus” extra virgin olive oil.

L’article The best olive oils in the world… est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.

To this day, the Giuseppe Giusti brand is internationally recognized as the greatest expression of Italian balsamic vinegars.

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L’article Balsamic Vinegar est apparu en premier sur Blog World Grands Crus.