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The products of the Valdichiana  

WINE

Already in ancient times the Valdichiana was famous as an area producing red and white wines appreciated as early as in Etruscan times. Wine growing and making has grown today into one of the most thriving businesses of the entire Province of Arezzo. Wines from the Arezzo area and, more in particular, the so-called Bianco della Valdichiana have achieved widespread success and secured market shares that make the future look bright. This wine is widely drunk across Italy and considered a very high quality product.
Valdichiana produced wines include:

· Bianco Vergine Valdichiana DOC,
· Chianti dei Colli Aretini DOCG,
· Vino Colli dell’Etruria DOC,
. Table wines

The production of these wines is governed by appropriate guidelines and exhibit a variety of internationally appreciated quality features.

OLIVE OIL

The gentle rolling hills fencing in the Valdichiana are the very kingdom of olive tree. The peculiar features of this olive oil are to be attributed to local olive-tree growing techniques as well as to the traditional processing techniques and the traditional relationship existing between the product and the uniqueness of the environment. The olive oil of the hills of the Valdichiana plays an important nutritional role also in consideration of its high quality constituents. With Ministerial Decree of the Agricultural Policy Ministry dated 04-07-1997 this olive oil was attributed the IGP mark with geographical indication “Colline di Arezzo” and its labelling was subsequently regulated by Law 313/1998 to ensure its high quality.

THE “CHIANINA”

Chianina cows are bred in the provinces of Arezzo and Siena and more in particular in the Valdichiana area. Cows are usually kept in free stalling and fed, after their natural nursing period, with both soilage and silage in perfect harmony with the surrounding environment. Chianina bullocks are bred in eco-compatible farms. Chianina meat was widely appreciated and achieved clear consensus from the scientific community (University of Florence and Pisa). The best meat typically comes from 20 month old bullocks as it is just at this age that the animal is able to provide the best slaughtering yield as well as the best organoleptic and nutritional features (high protein content, low cholesterol content, low indexes of atherogenicity), Chianina meat is currently protected by an IGP (5R Vitellone Bianco Appennino Centrale).

HONEY
Honey is a food product produced by bees from a mixture of plant nectar and honeydew. Honey is a high-energy and easily digestible food. Valdichiana honey comes from a range of different floral sources and in many different varieties such as millefiori (mixed flower honey), acacia, strawberry-tree, sainfoin, sunflower, etc. Strawberry-tree honey is a much sought-after high-quality honey. Valdichiana honey is produced by both professional and amateur beekeepers with a low number of beehives. Beekeeping is currently practised on a commercial scale by a number of younger beekeepers that contribute to preserving the status of honey as a traditional niche product of Valdichiana. Consumers will have a hard time trying to recognize typical honey from the valley and this is usually bought from well-known beekeepers and acquaintances.
 

OTHER PRODUCTS

The Valdichiana still offers its visitors high-quality typical food products although in low quantities. Such niche products are a real genetic wealth for our territory and may be seen as a heritage to be preserved beyond its mere commercial potentials. Here’s a list of typical products at risk of extinction:

  • Black cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Tuscan chard
  • Red onion
  • Four-season lettuce
  • Sant’Anna lettuce
  • Steak tomatoes
  • Coeur de boeuf tomatoes
  • Grape tomatoes
  • Round zucchini
  • Black-eye beans
  • Roman beans
  • Different types of apples
  • Different types of peaches
 
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