Chianti lost one of it’s great men this week,
Giovanni “Minuccio” Cappelli.
I considered him to be the James Beard of Tuscany: a winemaker, restauranteur, bonvivant, and the ultimate Oste.
Sig. Cappelli ran the Fattoria Montagliari until a few years ago, when he sold it to supposedly retire. His family had had this property for centuries.
When he moved to Villa Collegalle just down the road and discovered the abandoned vineyards on the property, he began again—with wine and, of course, his famous Balsamic Vinegar.
When we used to take a cooking class there, we always ended with this Torta di Mele, topped with gelato and balsamico.
Minuccio in his Balsameria at Villa Collegalle
His big heart and sense of humor gave many a fabulous memory of Chianti. One of the first families of Chianti, the Cappelli family has been in the business since 1730 and hopefully Sig Cappelli’s sons and grandson’s will continue in his style!
Thank you Minuccio for the memories!
From all of us that have sat at your table! Grazie Mille
He was a real man!