Picture a medieval castle that stands boldly in the Maremma countryside. Entrancing beauty aside, what makes Castello di Potentino so alluring is its owners’ success at keeping the old pile infinitely more alive than the nearby former volcano. Winemaker Charlotte Horton and her brother Alexander Greene invite locals and internationals to exhibit and entertain guests in a medley of events and residential workshops.
A healthy vineyard at Castello di Potentino
A visit to the castle wouldn’t be complete this spring and summer without admiring Daniele Badini’s photography exhibition. In L’Amiata – per non dimenticare, the Castel del Piano native observes some of the social and cultural traditions of the local area: the labour needed to feed townsfolk living around the extinct volcano; preferred pastimes and traditions; the faces of those who shaped the area; and a tribute to the environs of Potentino. As Badini puts it, “With my photos I try to describe the mountain as I see it and photograph the things that strike me the most. I often go walking in the woods, in the snow or in a meadow to better understand this incredible mountain. It’s only natural for me to seek to convey my feelings through my camera when I see a ray of sunshine that appears among the chestnut branches, or when I’m immersed in the quietude of a view.” The exhibition runs until July 14 and is free; tasting the estate’s own delectable Pinot Nero, Alicante and Sangiovese wines is a must, as too is the informative tour of the castle and cellar.
Thinking ahead to June activities at Potentino, reserve now for a culinary retreat and feast exploring Ancient Etruscan food culture and archaeology. Join food archaeologist Farrell Monaco for Feast with The Old School Kitchen: Etruria from June 28 to 30. Explore the food history, art and archaeology of Etruria from 900 BCE to the establishment of the Roman Republic in 509 BCE. The final night’s proceedings will close with a recreated extravagant and indulgent Etruscan feast, based on archaeological records, complete with feast servants, appropriate attire (costumes will be provided), and live entertainment. From June 30 to July 6, Farrell is joined by visual storyteller Sagher Setareh for a five-day live-in edible archaeology masterclass, The Old School Kitchen: From the Etruscan Table to the Roman Banquet, to indulge the food history of Etruria and Rome from 800 BCE to the Imperial Roman Era (AD 476).
