Opening Night Gala Dinner  

Friday 30 July
From 7.00pm
Il Borro Wine Estate
Località Borro, 1 - S.Giustino Valdarno (AR)

Graciously supporting the appearance of Grammy award-winning soprano Reneé Fleming, the Tuscan Sun Festival will launch the 2010 festival in a gala dinner at the Il Borro winery. Extremely limited seating. Register your interest to purchase a ticket to the opening gala dinner.

Since 1999, the Ferragamo family, with the help of highly regarded enologist Niccolo’ D’Afflitto, has been working to develop the agricultural practices that have been used at the Il Borro wine estate since 1760 when it was under the ownership of Medici-Tornaquinci family.  From the blend of their best grapes, Il Borro produces three optimum IGT wines: "Il Borro", "Pian di Nova" and "Polissena". 

www.ilborro.it

Twin Spirits Gala Dinner  

Thursday 5 August
10.00pm
Avignonesi Wine Estate, 53045 Valiano di Montepulciano

Avignonesi is a producer of award winning wines and comprises four wine-producing estates: Le Capezzine, I Poggetti, La Selva and La Lombarda. Following the Twin Spirits concert, Avignonesi will host a private gala reception with wines. We have limited seats available for sale, with proceeds of these sales being donated to the Rainforest Foundation Fund, Del Sole Foundation and the Royal Opera House Education Fund
www.avignonesi.it

Menu
Appetizers: selection of  cold cuts of Siena’s classic heirloom pig, Pienza Pecorino, Typical Tuscan Crostini Panzanella, Mozzarella and cherry tomatoes, Salad with egg and avocado, lightly battered vegetables, salad with spelt from Firenzuola
Wine: Sauvignon Blanc Cortona DOC 2009, Montepulciano Red wine DOC 2009

Main Course:  Smoked bacon of Siena’s classic heirloom pig, salad with seasoned vegetables
Wine: Montepulciano Noble Wine DOCG 2007, Desiderio Cortona Merlot DOC 2006

Dessert: Chantilly Bavarian cream with fresh fruit salad,  white and plain Valrhona chocolate mousse
Wine: “Shams” Passito wine from Sicily – Ajello,  “Malvina” Aleatico passito from Elba - Valdana

WINE AUCTION: The estate of Avignonesi has graciously donated six of their most prestigious wines to be auctioned with proceeds going to the Rainforest Foundation, Del Sole Foundation and the Royal Opera House Education Fund.  Led by Bernard Steyaert, an auctioneer previously with the legendary auction house of Christies, this evening’s event will feature Magnum Desiderio 1998, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 1988, Magnum 50&50 2004, Grifi 1988, Vin Santo di Montepulciano 1997 and Vin Santo di Montepulciano “Occhio di Pernice” 1993.
Please click here for prices and details regarding the wines presented at the auction

Masters of Wine    

Monday 2 August 2010
7.00pm - 10.00pm
Il Falconiere, Relais and Châteaux

An exclusive wine tasting of Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004. Presented by James Suckling, former Senior Editor and European Bureau Chief of the Wine Spectator, and the wine makers of some of the world’s finest Brunello. Followed by a superb dinner, this is a rare opportunity to meet the people that shape the wine world of today.

The evening will open with a talk and tasting of a selection of Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 wines. This will be followed by dinner, served with an aperitif of Brut Rose from Sangiovese and the main course will be accompanied by Baracchi Ardito.

Wine for the tasting includes:
San Filippo Brunello di Montalcino Le Lucére Riserva 2004
Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano Riserva 2004
Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso Riserva 2004
Eredi Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004

www.consorziobrunellodimontalcino.it

MENU

Appetizer: Marinated sea bass with Tuscan spices with zucchini and green tomatoes salad with passion fruit dressing
First Courses: Mini paccheri stuffed with chianina beef ragout on a bed of sangiovese sauce
Second Courses: Duck cooked in two ways: leg confit and baked breast with peach and onion in “dolce-forte” style
Dessert: Traditional Tuscan trifle with coffee ice cream and Vestri chocolate 70%

The dinner includes the following Riccardo's wines: Astore ‘09 Trebbiano 100%, Smeriglio ‘08 sangiovese Cortona Doc , Ardito 50% Syrah e 50% Cabernet  ’07, Vinsanto Baracchi

www.ilfalconiere.com

Biodynamic Wines    

Friday 6 August 2010
6.00pm - 8.00pm
Sant'Agostino

A rare opportunity to learn from experts in the field of Biodynamic wine production. Together with the distinguished wine critic James Suckling, Trudie Styler and her own biodynamic winemaker from her Italian estate, Paolo Caciorgna will describe the process involved in creating biodynamic wine. The presentation and talk will offer a tasting of the wines for a comparative discussion. €40

Lecture: Wines of the Old and the New 
What we’ve learnt from Italy

Wednesday 4 August 2010
6pm - 8pm
Sant'Agostino, film room
Free event

The Australian wine industry was founded and developed by pioneering Italian families in the 1850s who brought the traditions of the old country to a new and exciting land. Over the decades the vineyard practices of Australia have evolved into what is now called “new world viticulture”. Come and hear from Australian viticulturist Leah Clearwater about what makes new world and old world wines different. Taste some wines of the same variety from each country and see what makes them both very special in their own right. 

Corys

Saturday 31 July 2010, 1.00pm
Loc. Torreone 6
Transport provided. Meeting point at Porta Colonia at 1.00pm

With very special guest Frances Mayes.

Sitting above Cortona amongst winding, bumpy cobbled streets and close to Santa Margarita, you’ll experience the best fish in the area at Corys. Frances Mayes has not stopped mentioning Corys since she moved to Cortona! Using the restaurant simultaneously as a space for art exhibits, owner Frangie Boutros Jousef is proud to present paintings by some of the most interesting Italian artists of today. Three course lunch menu with wine €60 per person. Limited seats

Cory's Festival Fish Menu
A variety of appetizers
First Course: Tagliolini with crayfish (Tagliolini is a pasta made with eggs, similar to spaghetti)
Second Course: Fillet of grouper in crusted bread
Dessert: Homemade gelato
3 glasses of white wine chosen to match the courses.

* All products are fresh, not frozen, and pasta and gelato is homemade.
This particular menu has been mentioned in Frances Mayes books and articles.

www.corys.it

La Locanda del Molino

Wednesday 4 August 2010, 1.00pm
Loc. Montanare 10
Transport provided. Meeting point at Piazza del Mercato at 1.00pm

With very special guest, wine maker Riccardo Baracchi who will talk about and present his wine as part of the lunch.

Formerly an old olive mill – today it is a charming Locanda completely renovated by  Silvia and Riccardo Baracchi, owners of Relais & Châteaux Il Falconiere. A haven of tranquillity and elegance, in the middle of the Cortona countryside, a land famous for its culture, cuisine, and great wines. The style of cuisine inside the Locanda is simple and genuine, but never ordinary. The  Locanda offers mainly traditional Cortona cuisine and a shot from the past with almost forgotten dishes. Guests can share with us the pleasure of rediscovering our local cuisine matched with great wines.
Three course lunch with wine €60. Limited seats

Menu: Il Molino Delle Meraviglie - Dishes based on extra virgin olive oil.
Appetizer: Tuscan soup with olive oil from the mill, onions and herbs
First course: Handmade maltagliati pasta with garlic, oil and chilli pepper plus bean cream with uccelletto bird
Second Course: Chianina beef steak cooked on wood char-grilled with rosemary olive oil, potatoes and onions cooked under the ashes, and dressed with oil, vinegar, salt, pepper
Dessert: Blueberry and pine nut pie with and olive oil pastry. Served with wines to match the courses

www.locandadelmolino.com

Cooking with Mamma  

Friday 30 July, Sunday 1, Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 August 2010
12.00pm - 2.00pm
Sant'Agostino Courtyard

The Cooking with Mamma series of cooking demonstrations sell out each year. In addition to the demonstrations being a wonderful way to learn how Tuscan food is created in the home, they also provide a great place to meet fellow festival goers and enjoy the lovely surroundings of Sant Agostino. ‘Mama’ Donatella and her son Michele create a four course Tuscan meal – giving an insight on how traditional, famous and medieval Tuscan food is cooked. It’s entertaining, inspiring and interactive. You don’t have to cook at home to be fascinated at how simply these dishes come together and yet what mouth watering creations are served.
Set outdoors in the grassy monastery courtyard of Sant Agostino - Donatella cooks and explains the various techniques she is using while her son Michele assists her and translates into English. They finish up by serving an informal lunch that has just been prepared – accompanied by a glass of excellent local wine.

Each demonstration includes an antipasto, a first course, a second course and dessert. The demonstrations attract all ages and genders. €30 

Recipes

Friday 30 July 2010
Crostino di lardo - Crostini (toasted bread)
Ravioli di ceci - Chickpea Ravioli
Pollo alla mediterranea - Mediterranean chicken
Tortino al cioccolato - Warm cupcake type of dessert

Sunday 1 August 2010
Crostino alle cipolle in agrodolce - Crostini with sweet and sour onion
Pasta fagioli con pancetta affumicata - Pasta with beans and smoked bacon
Ossobuchi alla toscana - Tuscan take on classic Italian meat dish
Dolce delle rose - A special rose dessert

Tuesday 3 August 2010
Fiori gialli ripieni - Stuffed courgette flowers
Zuppa del frantoio - Soup from the oil-mill
Baccala con porri - Codfish with leek dish
Panforte - Nougat like spicy delicacy from Siena

Wednesday 4 August 2010
Cipolle gratinate ripiene - Cook ou gratin stuffed onions
Lasagne del trasimeno con verdure - Trasimeno lasagne with vegetables
Crostoni con maiale - Crostini with pork
Crespelle con meline di montagna -Crepe with small apples from the mountains 

Cooking with Silvia    

Friday 6 August 2010
12.00pm - 2.00pm
Sant'Agostino Courtyard

In 2007 Silvia Baracchi, chef of Il Falconiere, Relais and Châteaux, gave a cooking demonstration at the festival - which was incredibly popular. This year she returns to demonstrate some of her favourite dishes. Includes lunch. €30

Silvia will present the following menu:

Stuffed zucchini flowers with ricotta cheese and almonds on a bed of basil sauce
Pasta cooked in red wine with monk fish, onion and sausage sauce
Veal medallion stuffed with black olive and orange zests

Cheesemaking course with expert Romano Magi  

Making and tasting a variety pecorino cheeses and much more!

Tuesday 3 and Thursday 5 August 2010
10.00am - 1.00pm
Ristorante La Bucaccia, Via Ghibellina 17 Cortona

Experienced cheese maker Romano Magi is passionate about his craft and will lead you through a fascinating gastronomic garden of flavours while teaching how to make your own cheese in a short time. Also teaching tasting techniques and how to prepare a plate matching the right flavours and seasonings. Romano will transport you back to the Estruscan age, giving you historic details of the ancient cheesemaking art, when when shepherds, after milking would produce cheese pressed either into fresh herbs or wicker baskets. His interactive class will involve making Classic Pecorino, Ricotta and Raviggiolo as well as other fresh cheeses presented exclusively for the Festival. Chef Agostina will also explain how to combine cheese with various jams and fruit relish, and she will present recipes for the final lunch of the lesson.

The demonstration includes a lot of cheese, plus lunch with aperitif, first, second and dessert, all based with cheese, prepared by Romano and cooked by his wife chef Agostina at La Bucaccia restaurant (www.labucaccia.it) €30 

Vineyard Excursions   

Saturday 31 July 2010: Faralli vineyard
Tuesday 3 August 2010: La Calonica vineyard
Thursday 5 August 2010: Fabrizio Dionisio vineyard

Meeting point at Piazza del Mercato at 5.00pm

Tuscan Sun Festival in collaboration with the Wine Consortium of Cortona invites you can take a tour and enjoy a wine tasting of three premium wineries of the region.
Wine has been produced in the region of Cortona since Etruscan times, due to its favourable climate and soil conditions. From small family run farms to large cellars of international importance – the area supports wine brands deeply-rooted in the region as well as new comers. The Wine Consortium of Cortona works to defend and protect the image and prestige of Cortona D.O.C wines. Wines within the Consortium have to adhere to defined production methods that satisfy a defined quality standard.

The tour includes transport to the vineyard, a tour of their facilities explanation about their processes in English and Italian as well as the wine tasting.€20

Etruscan tour and lecture with Etruscan Lunch    

Friday 6 August 2010
Meeting point at Piazza del Mercato in Cortona
9.00am - 3.00pm

For the first time in 2009 we provided an exciting and unique opportunity: a guided tour of the recently opened archaeological park, by the two professors who have been leading the excavation since 1990. The tour sold out and we will be repeating this in 2010.
The Italian-Canadian partnership of Professor Helen Fracchia and Professor Maurizio Gualitieri will take a small group on tour of the site as well as give a talk on their discoveries and insights into Etruscan and Roman life in the vicinity of Cortona. The tour and lecture will be followed up with an authentic Etruscan lunch, which has been carefully put together exclusively for the Tuscan Sun Festival.

9.30 am: Meeting point at Piazza del Mercato, Cortona.
Departure by shuttle (15 mins) to the archaeological park to meet with Professors Maurizio Gualtieri (University of Perugia) and Helena Fracchia (University of Edmonton).
Guided tour of the archaeological park in English and Italian.
11.30 am: Shuttle to Borgo il Melone for a lecture by Professors Maurizio Gualtieri and Helena Fracchia about Etruscan and Roman Cortona.
1.00 pm: Four course Etruscan lunch.
3.00 pm: departure by shuttle to piazza del Mercato, Cortona

Etruscan Lunch Menu
A booklet with explanations about the menu will be available for participants.
Antipasto - Tagete’s delicatessen: Green olives , black olives flavoured with garlic and wild fennel, omelette with nettle, eggs and cheese, a selection of cheese with honey, flat bread
First course - Puls chiusina: spelt, pork, broad beans, oat bread
Second course - The offert for Tinia : Chianina beef with Mediterranean aromas and wild herbs
Dessert - Arrunte’s gift: Spelt scones, hazelnuts, figs, grapes and ‘Mulsum’ (wine and honey)

Limited to 40 people. €50