CINTA SENESE - THE TUSCAN PIG

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2011-02-15T10:40:00.000+01:00

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Video of Ray and Cinte Senesi on Linea Verde TV program.

2010-09-21T15:57:00.001+02:00

Video Rai.TV - Linea Verde 2009-2010 - Stranieri in Chianti

Brief story of the Cinta Senese Breed of Pigs.

2009-12-12T11:55:00.000+01:00

Few people, outside of Tuscany, actually know much about the Cinta Senese breed of pigs that was at the top of the list of endangered and "residual" species at risk of total extinction in the 1990’s, so we will give you a brief introduction.

The Cinta Senese breed owes its name to its black coat with a white sash (called a cinta in italian) that runs across its shoulders, sides and front legs. Medium in size (adult pigs run between 160-200 kgs in weight), it has sturdy limbs, long ears that cover and protect its eyes from branches and a long snout with a very thick grout that allows it to dig in the dirt at ease. These characteristics allow it to live as a free range animal in the woodlands of Tuscany.

The breed is native to this region and dates back probably prior to the middle ages. A cinta pig is depicted in the fresco by Ambrogio Lorenzetti dating back to 1337 (called the “Buon Governo” – see the photograph) in the Palazzo Comunale in Siena’s Piazza del Campo. It was a popular farm animal probably due to its heartiness and easy adaptability to all types of areas.

This breed is now off the endangered species list and its meat was recently awarded the DOP classification from the european community as a product of high quality tightly tied to tradition and is now listed among those culinary excellencies that render tuscany and italy so famous around the world.

The DOP is reserved to the meat obtained from animals of pure Cinta Senese breed with certified origins that can only be raised in Tuscany and must be free range and fed with a combination of natural grazing and pelletted cereals that are guaranteed as free from all genetic modifications. The piglets are certified just after birth and provided with an ear tag that lists their genetic background.

The fresh meats they provide are transformed into those products that are typical of Tuscan tradition, and they all carry a plastic band that certifies the product’s origin by the consortium that controls the genetic heritage of the animals. This band allows you to trace the final product all the way back to the original animal it was produced from.

Casamonti’s Cinte Senesi are bred free range in the woodlands and their daily diet is integrated with specially formulated cereal mixtures that vary according to their stages of development, although, truth be said, they prefer digging for a root or eating a wild mushroom to the easy food provided for them.

When they reach two years of age, they are taken to the butchery and then the meat is transformed directly in the estate salumificio (laboratory) into the typical Tuscan products that include salami, finocchiona, fresh sausage, seasoned pork loin, salt bacon, capocollo, cured lard, and the famous prosciutto.

The products are cured in special rooms according to the length of time it takes them to be ready for consumption. This is a totally natural process, and in the case of the prosciutto, for example, can last well more than two years.

I, Raymond, was one of the founding fathers and later president of the Consortium that protects the genetic heritage of the Cinta Senese breed. The Consortium was created to save the race and to promote and guarantee the origin and distribution of the products obtained from this spectacular breed of animals. The Consortium applies the most stringent breeding rules than any other similar organization in europe.

Casamonti, thanks to the high quality standards of its products, is quoted among the top best in Tuscany and has won various awards and recognitions and boasts fans and clients from across the world.

Casamonti's Wines: IGT Elogio, Chianti Classico and Chianti Classico Riserva

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Casamonti has 6 hectares of specialized vineyards. There is a central nucleus of specialized vineyards planted primarily to Sangiovese grapevines, which are the heart and essence of all Chianti Classico and Brunello wines.

Separate from the main vineyards are three smaller sections which also host Merlot and other varietals, whose grapes are used to blend with the Sangiovese to provide a softer and more delicate tone to the IGT wine.

Three wines are produced from Casamonti’s grapes, with the fermentation, aging and bottling taking place under our direct supervision.

Elogio di Casamonti is our fresh and young Tuscan IGT wine that is ideal for every moment of the day and accompanies all kinds of foods splendidly. It is a blend of Sangiovese with Canaiolo and some Merlot. The grapes are fermented separately and then blended to our satisfaction.

Our Chianti Classico D.O.P. is a pure Sangiovese partially aged in large wooden casks and part in barriques to obtain a perfect state of aging. It is a more refined wine and it is ideal with meats and our pork products and with Tuscan Pecorino cheeses. It is also a fresh tasting wine.

The Chianti Classico D.O.P. Riserva is a thoughtful wine, made from Sangiovese grapes, aged in barriques and ideal for stronger meats like Fiorentina steaks, or simply for meditation and general enjoyment of its rich content and full body.

Casamonti's Extra Virgin Olive Oil

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In the course of the centuries, the farmers at Casamonti slowly continued to add olive trees in all the empty unused spaces, following typical Chianti tradition of using every bit of land for some use or another.

Then, in 1990, we planted a first section of specialized olive grove, with the trees lined up and spaced at 5 meters from each other, allowing easy access to work the grounds and pick the olives in season.

This experiment was so successful that in 1998, we planted another very large grove and this time added drip irrigation to the plantation, allowing us to take care of the seedling trees in the heat of summer. Our irrigation system, based on gravitational force only, has now been imitated by many olive growers in Tuscany.

We later planted another large olive grove on another parcel of land that belongs to us, always in the Chianti Classico region, bringing our total olive tree count now to 4000.

The trees are divided into the main selected varietals of our region, with Leccino, Moraiolo, Maurino, Pendolino and Frantoio cultivars planted in a studied combination that allows the olives to mix together during harvest to produce the full aroma and finesse with its spicy undertones typical of the Chianti Classico Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Our Extra Virgin Olive Oil is ideal for use on its own as a simple condiment on bread, salads and pasta, or added to sauces in typical Tuscan dishes.

Casamonti is a member of the Consorzio di Tutela della D.O.P. Olio Extra Vergine di Oliva Chianti Classico.

Our Tastings of Casamonti Products

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During the whole course of the year, we hold tastings of our wines, extra virgin olive oil, pork products and other related goodies listed below. We run the tastings in the afternoons or, by appointment, we can set up your own private tasting and light lunch. Just contact Anna Rita at diegoliannarita@gmail.com and set up your customized presentation. We can handle groups of up to 25/30 people.

In the spirit of our way of life, we also offer a series of products at Casamonti that are produced by friends of ours who also keep genuinity and organics high in their standards of consideration.

Honey: we have some bee hives and also beekeepers who produce and provide us with their honey and with soaps and creams and other health products derived from the wonderful world of bees.

Chocolates: an acquantaince of ours produces all kinds of choco-lates, cookies and typical cakes in a small artisan laboratory not far away and we are proud to offer these delightful sweets prepared for us by this master chocolatier.

Preserves: another friend of ours produces a series of vegetables under pure olive oil, some of which he gathers from our vegetable garden and many of which he picks early in the morning, and, in the case of Porcini mushrooms, when they are in season. The products are very simply made and utterly delicious on their own on top of a slice of bread or as accompaniment to meats and to our pork products. He also produces some healthy pasta sauces that everyone should try.

Salt: this selection of products comes from the most famous of the Italian natural salt mines in Cervia, an area of central Italy that specializes in full bodied salts that are produced in the same natural way as the French Camargue salts are. The products are fascinating.

Souvenirs: we had a lot of fun choosing different items to personalize that are great to take home as a remainder of what we hope was a wonderful day spent with us here in this wonderful Chianti Classico Region.