New Zealand Herald Article about WWOOFing!

A lovely article about last year's olive harvest! Charlotte the super-bitch...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10681586

http://www.qt.com.au/story/2010/10/21/pick-your-way-through-italy/

Mushroom Madness 7th November @ Frontline

 
It has been more than a month of harvesting for Charlotte, both in the vineyard - where she has just finished picking the sangiovese, which is beautifully healthy and ripe and now bubbling away in the barrels next to the Pinot Noir that we picked in September: 2010 looks to be a good year - but also reaping some wonderful reviews in the press... the release of the 2011 wine guides has lead to a fantastic 5 stars in the Guida Espresso for the Sacromonte; we are in the inaugural Guida Slow Wine, awarded a Slow Wine rosette;  and for the first time we are in Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book. Exhausting and exhilarating in equal measure, the olive harvest is next so that we have some delicious new oil for the November pop-up....

Lunch 1pm for 1:30pm and Dinner 7:30 for 8pm £30 a head
Wild Mushroom Soup with Borlotti Beans, Bruschetta with new oil
Roasted mushrooms with Animelle, Chestnut polenta and Ricotta
Green Salad with Secret Potentino Dressing
Schiaccia dei Morti
Coffee is included

All our ingredients will come from Italy or sourced locally in England.

If you can't make it... but would like to buy some wine...
Charlotte's wines can be ordered from From Vineyards Direct. Please click here for the Piropo and here for the Sacromonte. Delivery is free. The Lyncurio is also now available too.

Opening Hours
The bar will be open all day from 11:30am-10:30pm- any left-overs will be served.

Booking
Please book by sending me an e-mail at potentino.bookings@me.com
People will be seated together. If you would prefer to have a table to yourselves, please let me know and I will try to accommodate you.

Getting There
The Frontline Club is in 13 Norfolk Place, Paddington, W2 1QJ.
The building is on the corner of Norfolk Place and St. Michael's Street. Norfolk Place runs between Sussex Gardens and Praed Street and is just opposite the entrance to St. Mary's Hospital.
Closest Tube Station: Paddington

The Potentino Pop-up will be in the Clubroom on the 1st floor and downstairs in the Restaurant too.

All billing will be done through the Frontline Club. A discretionary 12.5% Service charge will be added to your bill.

Future Dates and Other Events
Pop-ups at Frontline (1st Sundays):
5th December
Book now if you would like to ensure a place.

Pop-up Future Dates

We have two dates organised for 2010 after the October Pop-up-
Sunday 7th November and Sunday 5th December.
I hope you can make it!
Alexander

Chestnut Festival at Frontline 3rd October

Charlotte, Rohan and I are back at Frontline in Paddington on Sunday 3rd October with a feast of Chestnuts and Wild Boar. The Pop-ups have been so much fun, we are hoping we can continue to do them on the first Sunday of each month.

I was in Italy last weekend for the harvest of the Pinot Noir- the grapes were wonderfully healthy. We made some delicious grape schiaccia which is made with the wine grapes and is deliciously sticky but quite savoury. I hope we can make some for the 3rd. I have added some photos at the bottom...

Lunch 1pm for 1:30pm and Dinner 7:30 for 8pm £30 a head (£25 for Vegetarians)
Quince and Amiata Chestnut Soup
Wild Boar Stew, Roasted Pumpkin and Onions with Wild Pears, Salad with Potentino Dressing
Pecorino and Mostarda
Chestnuts cooked with wild fennel
Coffee is included. 

All our ingredients will come from Italy or sourced locally in England.

If you can't make it... but would like to buy some wine...
Charlotte's wines can be ordered from From Vineyards Direct. Please click here for the Piropo and here for the Sacromonte. Delivery is free. The Lyncurio is also now available too.

Opening Hours
The bar will be open all day from 11:30am-10:30pm- any left-overs will be served.

Booking
Please book by sending me an e-mail at potentino.bookings@me.com
People will be seated together. If you would prefer to have a table to yourselves, please let me know and I will try to accommodate you.

Getting There
The Frontline Club is in 13 Norfolk Place, Paddington, W2 1QJ.
The building is on the corner of Norfolk Place and St. Michael's Street. Norfolk Place runs between Sussex Gardens and Praed Street and is just opposite the entrance to St. Mary's Hospital.
Closest Tube Station: Paddington

The Potentino Pop-up will be in the Clubroom on the 1st floor and downstairs in the Restaurant too.

All billing will be done through the Frontline Club. A discretionary 12.5% Service charge will be added to your bill.

Future Dates and Other Events
Pop-ups at Frontline (1st Sundays):
7th November
5th December
Book now if you would like to ensure a place.

Backs, Feet and Etruscan Wine at Potentino 11th-17th October
Sarah Key will be in residence at Potentino 11th-17th October helping people to understand their backs and Charlotte will be making some house wine the Etruscan way.

Jack giving the grape skins a very light pressing.

Waiting for some lunch after picking the Pinot Noir

   Grape Schiaccia made with some Malvasia Nera grapes

At war under Tuscan Skies

A very good article about Tuscany and the slow destruction of the environment... quite terrible and very very sad...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/italy/tuscany/7955548/At-war-under-Tuscan-skies.html

Vinicide

Our neighbours' vineyard has been cut down- nearly 3,000 vines cut below the graft.

Some of the local coverage shows what a blow this is- 6 years of growth destroyed in one night...

http://enoclubsiena.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/tv9telemaremma

A Summer Fish Extravaganza At Frontline 1st August!

Charlotte, Cesare, Rohan and I are back at Frontline in Paddington on Sunday 1st August with a fish extravaganza- so if you aren't on holiday, come and join us! Or forward this on to a friend... We love new people...

One of our favourite dishes is Cesare's seafood pasta which we only get when he is coming straight up from Grosseto Market. Silence descends on the table as we suck the juices out of the shells and mop the plate clean of all the tomato sauce. To keep things light we are having a chilled zucchini, almond and saffron soup to start and a surprise pudding...

We have decided to cut back to one lunch sitting so that things can be a little more relaxed- and once the club is full, we will add more tables downstairs.

Lunch (1pm for 1:30) and Dinner 7:30 for 8pm
Prices dependant on the Market Price (but not more than £35)
Charlotte's Zucchini, Almond and Saffron Soup
Cesare's Seafood Extravaganza with Spaghetti, Tuscan Bread
Salad with the Secret Potentino Dressing
Surprise Pudding

 

Coffee and water are included. 

We will have some of the new season olive oil as well.
All our ingredients will come from Italy or from Frontline's Farm in Norfolk. 

If you can't make it... but would like to buy some wine...It can be ordered from From Vineyards Direct. Please click here for the Piropo and here for the Sacromonte. Delivery is free. The Lyncurio is also now available too!

Opening Hours
The bar will be open all day from 11:30am-10:30pm- any left-overs will be served.

Booking
The last events sold out, so please book by sending me an e-mail atpotentino.bookings@me.com
People will be seated together. If you would prefer to have a table to yourselves, please let me know and I will try to accommodate you.

Getting There
The Frontline Club is in 13 Norfolk Place, Paddington, W2 1QJ.
The building is on the corner of Norfolk Place and St. Michael's Street. Norfolk Place runs between Sussex Gardens and Praed Street and is just opposite the entrance to St. Mary's Hospital.
Closest Tube Station: Paddington

The Potentino Pop-up will be in the Clubroom on the 1st floor and downstairs in the Restaurant too.

All billing will be done through the Frontline Club. A discretionary 12.5% Service charge will be added to your bill.

The Barabata- the harvest festival for Cerere in Bolsena- every May.

We're back at Frontline on Sunday 6th June!

Charlotte, Cesare, Rohan and I are going to be hosting our second pop-up restaurant at Frontline in Paddington on Sunday 6th June.

Charlotte and the WWOOFers are currently in the vineyard choosing the shoots on the vines that will make this year's grapes. It is amazing how vigorous the vines are and soon it will be a       constant race to keep up with the growth.

Lunch (two sittings-12:00 for 12:15pm and 2:45 for 3:00pm) £25
Dinner (one sitting, 7:00 for 8pm) £25
Pappa al Pomodoro (Tomato and Tuscan bread soup) 
Asparagus "Farrotto" (Spelt Risotto) 
Cannelli bean and Wilted Radicchio Salad with a touch of Bottarga, Sauteed Blood Oranges with Chilli and Garlic
Sicilian Lemon Tart with Mascarpone Cream

Coffee and water are included. 

We will have some of the new season olive oil as well.
All our ingredients will come from Italy or from Frontline's Farm in Norfolk. 
If you can't make it... but would like to buy some wine...
It can be ordered from From Vineyards Direct. Please click here for the Piropo and here for the Sacromonte. Delivery is free.

Opening Hours
The bar will be open all day from 11:30am-10:30pm- any left-overs will be served.
Booking
The last event sold out, so please book by sending me an e-mail at potentino.bookings@me.comPeople will be seated together. If you would prefer to have a table to yourselves, please let me know and I will try to accommodate you.
Film Screening
Frontline will be holding a screening at 4pm of Aisheen (Still Alive in Gaza). You are more than welcome to come for lunch and then stay on for the screening and come back for an early supper afterwards! If you would like to book a ticket to the screening please click here.
Getting There
The Frontline Club is in 13 Norfolk Place, Paddington, W2 1QJ.
The building is on the corner of Norfolk Place and St. Michael's Street. Norfolk Placeruns between Sussex Gardens and Praed Street and is just opposite the entrance to St. Mary's Hospital.
Closest Tube Station: Paddington
The Potentino Pop-up will be in the Clubroom on the 1st floor.

guess who is coming to town?

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

	Your Invitation to The Week Wine Club's Summer Wine Tasting Discover the very best wines at our exclusive wine tasting.Thursday 3rd June 2010 6.30-8.30 pmThe State Apartments, Royal Hospital Chelsea, London SW3Join us at the illustrious State Apartments of the Royal Hospital Chelsea to sample many of our wines including our 2007 Rhônes, the best of Bordeaux and our fine selection of white Burgundy. On hand to offer expert insight will be the producers of some of our featured Italian and French wines.
	Tickets £10 (redeemable against your first order).BOOK TODAY— Visit www.theweekwineclub.com/events.php or call 020 7490 9904.

Pop-up Restaurant at Frontline: 25th April now confirmed

Great news! Charlotte, Cesare, Rohan and I are going to be hosting our first pop-up restaurant at Frontline in Paddington on 25th April. 


The idea is to create a typical Potentino lunch and dinner even if we aren't sitting under the loggia looking up at Monte Amiata with Coco and Messy playing in the courtyard or sitting by the fire in the kitchen playing Scopa...

All our ingredients will come from Monte Amiata or from Frontline's Farm in Norfolk. Since we can't be sure what will look good in the market, we have put together a few sample menus to whet your appetite.

Lunch Sitting 1-12:00 for 12:30pm ONLY 8 PLACES LEFT £20 


Lunch Sitting 2- 2:30 for 3:00pm £20 NOW SOLD OUT
A plate of crostini with walnut pesto, tomato and mentuccia, garlic and olive oil 

Charlotte's famous spaghetti with bottarga, zucchini and flowers

Seggiano pecorino and chestnut honey

Fresh ricotta and chestnut puree

Dinner (one sitting, 7:30 for 8pm) £20 NOW SOLD OUT

Farinata di ceci

Fabbio's Italian pork sausages in wine and Fave e foglie (broad bean puree and bitter greens sauteed with garlic and chilli)

Seggiano pecorino and chestnut honey

Cesare's Tiramisu 

Coffee and water are included.

Wine can be purchased by the glass, bottle or case!

We will have some of the new season olive oil as well.


LAUNCHING THE NEW WHITE WINE
Charlotte has posted about our new and very exciting white wine- Lyncurio. This will be the very first opportunity to taste it.


Opening Hours
The bar will be open all day from 11:30am-10:30pm.

Booking
I hope that this will become a monthly event- but as this is a soft launch, we would like to get an idea of numbers so that we have one fewer thing to worry about. Please book by posting a comment below with your name and time you want to eat and number of people you will be.

Film Screening
Frontline will be holding a screening at 4pm of Live from Bethlehem. You are more than welcome to come for lunch and then stay on for the screening and come back for an early supper afterwards! If you would like to book a ticket to the screening please click here.

Getting There
The Frontline Club is in 13 Norfolk Place, Paddington, W2 1QJ.
The building is on the corner of Norfolk Place and St. Michael's Street. Norfolk Place runs between Sussex Gardens and Praed Street and is just opposite the entrance to St. Mary's Hospital.
Closest Tube Station: Paddington

The Potentino Pop-up will be in the Clubroom on the 1st floor.

Buying Potentino Wine
If you would like to have some wine delivered to your home. Please click here for the Piropo and here for the Sacromonte. Delivery is free.

Conca d'oro sulla televisione

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7z1wORbh5E

links

www.vinoalvino.org/blog/2010/03/giu-le-mani-dalla-conca-d’oro-di-seggiano-un-mega-hotel-di-fronte-al-castello-di-potentino.html

http://www.sommelier.it/archivio.asp?ID_Categoria=9&ID_Articolo=1871

http://www.vinix.it/myDocDetail.php?ID=3881&lang=ita

Invito al Convegno

INVITO AL CONVEGNO

PER LA TUTELA DELLA CONCA D'ORO

CASTELLO DI POTENTINO Seggiano SABATO 3 APRILE ORE 16,00

Invito a un dibattito pubblico

“Per la tutela della Conca d'Oro”

presso il Castello di Potentino - Seggiano www.potentino.com

Con interventi di rappresentanti nazionali di Italia Nostra, del “Comitato per la Valdorcia, Amiata e Crete Senesi”, WWF, operatori economici della zona

È stata invitata l'Amministrazione Comunale e la cittadinanza interessata.

Potentino in Peril

Known as the 'Golden Basin' because of its wonderful fertility, the valley between Seggiano and Montegiovi shows no signs of modern intervention.  A paradise of bio-diversity dotted with mixed plots of vineyards,  olive groves, orchards, vegetable gardens and chestnut woods.  It is dominated by the Castello di Potentino, a national monument and a wine-making estate, owned by relatives of the writer Graham Greene. (Decanter 4 stars and Guida L'Espresso 5 bottles - top 12 wines in Tuscant 2010).  Thanks to the lack of construction it has remained more or less unaltered since Medieval times and there is evidence of much earlier  farming found in the Etruscan wine-making stones by the river.

Now, after centuries untouched, it is under threat - a project for a well being centre about 

500m from the castle and various other connected residential structures with asphalted access.

It is sadly only one example of what appears to be a symptomatic destruction of a historic rural heritage - the Val D'Orcia famous for its classic Tuscan look used in films like the ENGLISH PATIENT is also suffering from similar concrete invasions.  Montepo, another wine estate owned by the Biondi Santi family has been completely surrounded by wind towers.  Basically, local councils are short of money as EU grants and certain taxes are no longer designated to them, so they are merrily giving away remunerative permissions on the only resources they have left - the unique Tuscan landscape which the tourists come for and the very image which help sell its famous wine and food abroad.  A very effective auto-destruction.

"Organic" Wine

I saw this fascinating post in the New York Times Freakonomics Blog  last week. It seems that labelling wine organic doesn't offer the price premium that it does with other organic products.

I have always had a bug bear about farming legislation which distinguishes between organic and conventional farming. The onus and expense of certification should be reversed where organic should be the default position rather than an expensive, bureaucratic choice.

The bureaucratic burden should be placed on the farmers who wish to use pesticides and fertilisers (whether organic or not) through the purchase of licences and taxed on the use of environmentally harmful products and there should be regular checks on all farmers to make sure that they are in compliance. 

I would prefer to see a list of chemicals used on the produce I buy- a list of ingredients with their relative levels.

Wine should certainly not be excluded from this as I think most people would be horrified to know what goes into some of the more industrial "wine beverages" that are available on the lists of even the finest wine merchants.

I am certain that there is a kernal of an idea here- it isn't entirely practical and I am not convinced that this would always help inform the consumers' decisions, but the fact that a chicken can be pumped full of antibiotics (not on the label), plumped with all sorts of hydrogenated fats (on the label) and we still accept a bottle of wine that tells us nearly nothing, makes me wish I could raise one eye-brow...

Charlotte will have more to say on this I am sure!

First Outing for The New Vintages and LYNCURIO's debut

www.acquabuona.it

Terre di Toscana 2010 - Terza edizione. 7 e 8 marzo a Lido di Camaiore

Terre di Toscana e i suoi territori. Maremma (grossetana), Lucchesia, Massese

Per finire, l’alta Maremma interna o, per riassumere in una parola, il Montecucco. Altro mondo, sebbene ci troviamo ancora in provincia di Grosseto. Le giaciture e i terreni sostanzialmente differenti, le condizioni climatiche in alcuni casi pedemontane, concorrono alla realizzazione di vini più freschi e contrastati che non quelli della Maremma classica. A Terre di Toscana saranno presenti tre campioni del territorio: Leonardo Salustri , che con l’aiuto del figlio Marco cura le vigne una a una per ricavarne dei sangiovese personalissimi e di grande energia, i Montecucco Grotte Rosse e Santa Marta.  Castello di Potentino, con lo straordinario Montecucco Sacromonte, l’intrigante Piròpo (pinot nero in larga prevalenza, per ora in assemblaggio con sangiovese ed alicante), e con la nuova scommesa in bianco, chiamata Lyncurio, di cui siam certi si parlerà.

Rose Murray Brown MW - The Scotsman Magazine

rosemurraybrown.com

Ruby Baby

Do not see that it has anything to do with us!!!  Similarities are all coincidental.  Art and life reciprocate.
The woman in the play who makes wine, lives in a castle and has great danes and volunteers is clearly not me - they say she is bossy. Ergo...

Great romp and very well written and acted and directed.  Well done Louisa Young and the BBC.

KEEP YOUR EYES OUT SCOTLAND FOR SCOTSMAN ARTICLE  on POTENTINO

28th February by MW (master of wine) ROSE MURRAY

Short Cuts: Ruby Baby by Louisa Young- Radio Play

A fantastically funny thriller set in a castle in Tuscany. Why did Ruby go missing? Was she eaten by Olivia's dog? Did she drink too much organic red wine and fall into a vat of olive oil in the night? The volunteers speculate...

The first episode of Louisa's Radio Play is on BBC Radio 7- Ruby Baby- the first episode is available to download now. The 2nd episode airs on 1st March.

Charlotte and I think it would make a fabulous film!

I wonder if we can find a photograph of the real Ruby?
xx
Alexander
PS For more of Louisa's work have a look here...

DECANTER TOP 10

www.decanter.com/recommendations/subrecommendation.php?rid=655&sid=1884

The top 10

Recommendations > Ten best wines from www.fromvineyardsdirect.com > The top 10

From Vineyards Direct first opened its virtual door to the public in December 2006. Created by Esme Johnstone, co-founder of Majestic Wine, and David Campbell, who founded Guide Hachette des Vins, the online merchant offers a limited selection of exciting wines, none of them run-of-the-mill and each one hand picked for its outstanding quality and value for money. It specialises in French, Italian and Spanish wines, none of them branded names but individual wines sourced and imported direct from the grower, just as its name suggests. Its wines invariably perform well in our blind tastings, which is why we've been inpsired to to select our ten best. Castello di Potentino, Sacromente, Montecucco Rosso 2005 100% Sangiovese from Tuscany. Lots of red cherry fruit and spice. The palate is balanced and fresh and wrapped with more ripe red fruit characters and hint of coffee on the finish. £10.95 From Vineyards Direct (www.fromvineyardsdirect.com / 020 7490 9910) Markus Molitor, Haus Klosterberg, Riesling, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer 2007 Beautiful varietal characters with notes of lime and apple and hint of apricot. Crisp on the palate supported by a slatey minerality and a refreshing structure. £9.45 From Vineyards Direct (www.fromvineyardsdirect.com / 020 7490 9910) Chateau Canuet, Margaux 1999 Nice development aromas on the nose, peppery and meaty with some dark fruit aromas. The palate still has firm tannins with secondary fruit characters and a medium length. Very enjoyable wine to drink now. £16.95 From Vineyards Direct (www.fromvineyardsdirect.com / 020 7490 9910) Castello di Potentino, Piropo, IGT Toscana 2005 Rounded, deep cherry fruit. Lushness to the palate, but freshness and vibrant as well, with just a nip of spice. Good length and clean. £12.95 From Vineyards Direct (www.fromvineyardsdirect.com / 020 7490 9910) Mas Carlot, Cuvee Tradition, Costieres de Nimes 2008 Crushed red fruits on the nose with leafy/herbal layers. Very attractive and accessible with fresh black and red berries flavours. Straightforward but has plenty going for it nonetheless. £6.95 From Vineyards Direct (www.fromvineyardsdirect.com / 020 7490 9910) Clos des Juilly, Saint-Veran 2006 Good expression of ripe fruits with some apple flavours and creaminess. Good complexity on the palate, easy drinking Chardonnay with solid structure and rich fruit characters on the finish. £12.95 From Vineyards Direct (www.fromvineyardsdirect.com / 020 7490 9910) Chateau Sainte-Marie, Reserve, Entre-Deux-Mers 2008 Compact and rounded nose with some apple and lime flavours and honeyed touches. More lean citrus fruit in the mouth fleshes out a bit on the mid-palate. Green and zesty. £8.95 From Vineyards Direct (www.fromvineyardsdirect.com / 020 7490 9910) Serge Mathieu, Cuvee Tradition, Pur Pinot, Blanc de Noirs Champagne Some yeasty and bready aromas on the nose. Crisp mousse and a nice citrus precision to the flavours. Just lovely and flavoursome with lots of more-ish qualities. Definitely one of the best value Champagnes on the market. £21.95 From Vineyards Direct (www.fromvineyardsdirect.com / 020 7490 9910) Romain Bouchard, Domaine de la Grande Chaume, Vau de Vey, Chablis 1er Cru 2006 Pleasant and attractive charcoal tinge to the nose, with some lime and green fruit aromas. Finely composed and balanced palate with a crisp acidity and a fine minerality on the finish. Really drinking beautifully now. £16.95 From Vineyards Direct (www.fromvineyardsdirect.com / 020 7490 9910) Rocca di Tufo, Orvieto 2007 Lively pear and apple aromas with a hint of citrus zest. Crisp and balanced with a pretty decent weight and texture, attractive melon and pear characters on the finish. £9.95 From Vineyards Direct (www.fromvineyardsdirect.com / 020 7490 9910)

Decanter Top 10 fromvineyardsdirect

Both Piropo and Sacromonte make the list after a blind tasting.

Very pleased.

Why the silence

So, you have all been very uninspired and despondent without my entries, I am sure, and wondering why.  Tossing and turning all night with concern and perplexity.  Well... I SET FIRE TO MYSELF.


Not out of protest.  Not self immolation.  But stupidity.  It was very cold and my stove was not working so I decided to get it going for the doggies before getting into bed, with a sqirt of household alcohol.  This, I hasten to add is a very common practice.  Whoosh boom a ball of flames and the rest is hospital and bandages.  A very common accident as I was told by the first aid emergency doctor.


The ambulance drivers turned out to be friends and I had a very sweet kind nurse in there with me so it was all quite funny.  We hurtled down the mountain to the Grosseto general hospital which is a vast labyrinthine complex and got lost immediately.  The ambulance men could not find the dermatology ward as it had been moved so we wandered around for ages.  This is me asking passers-by where it was, waiting in the corridor where the men left me.

When I got back home I had to have my hair cut as it had been burnt into a strange Klaus Nomi bouffant.  I am now hairstyled like Mia Farrow/Twiggy/Jean Seberg.  Joan of Arc who managed to get off the stake look.  This is me having my hair cut veiled so the hair does not get into the wounds.  I have to keep wrapped up and must not let the sun touch my face so vampire life for a bit.

I have in the last weeks been through many classic horror characters - The Mummy, Elephant Man,
The Invisible Man.

Scenting around Potentino- The Chemistry of a Wine's Nose

The wonderful Avery Gilbert has written a fascinating summary of recent research into the chemistry of the scent of wine and how wine develops in the bottle at a molecular level. I am sure that already some of the large industrial grape beverage companies are making use of this technology to fix their defective wines.

Avery's book, although not about wine, is a great read- his views on our abilities to find truffles particularly excited me- if only I wasn't so far from the ground...