The Magpie's Guide to Montalcino

“Although it might seem to be about a very specific topic, Montalcino, it actually is a perfect entry into a deeper understanding of Italian wine, Italian lifestyle and life in a small town in Tuscany. Some entries are very specific to viticulture, but others are stories about beloved local characters or Tuscan sayings. The idea of the magpies is that this is a collection of shiny things. I really like the way it is a guide; it doesn’t have a beginning or an end. You can just open it and read about a general concept, like ‘drinking window’, ‘peronospera’, the legacy of nicknames in the town, or the Etruscan origins of the area. It is so well crafted that in just a few lines, she delivers a lot of information in this very light-handed, witty, yet informative way. This is a book for everybody.” Read more...

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Gabriele Gorelli