“Calici di Stelle” in Castiglione d’Orcia, where Art is wedded to Orcia Wine and the loveliest label is awarded a prize

On 10 August, the magical night of Calici di Stelle (Glasses of Stars) in the heart of the Orcia Valley will amaze wine-lovers of “the most beautiful wine in the world”. There will be a competition to award a prize to the most attractive label of Orcia wine, wine tasting events of great Orcia Doc wines, exhibitions of artists and luminous stilt walkers, local handicrafts and traditional food, laboratories for children and much more…

<<Calici di Stelle 2017 intends to be a hymn to Art in all its forms together with the beauty of the Orcia Valley and the excellence of Orcia Doc wine>> states the Mayor Claudio Galletti. <<This is why, in collaboration with the Artistic and Cultural Association called ‘I Gigli di Castro’, we have organized the competition to choose the loveliest label of Orcia wine which will be awarded a prize during the evening of 10 August>> adds Alice Rossi, town councilor for Culture. This then is the program of the 2017 edition with lots of new events, some confirmed and collaboration in others. On August 9 with Strada del vino Orcia there will be “Awaiting Calici di Stelle at the Rocca di Tentennano” where guided tours conducted by the Val d’Orcia Tour will arrive to enjoy an aperitif of Orcia wine and typical finger food (at 6.30 pm. ) and listen to the music of “Quitetto in sei” by Leggera Electric Folk Band concert within the splendid setting of the Rocca.

On August 10 the key event of Calici di Stelle will be in the village of Castiglione d’Orcia with entertainment for wine lovers and their children. “Music, food and wine wedded to Art in an extraordinary union will allow people to discover the variety of  our excellent wine production, the artisan production of Orcia Doc wine carried out with passionate commitment by tenacious artists of wine” adds Donatella Cinelli Colombini, the president of the Consortium of Orcia Wine. As from 5pm. the historic center  will come to life with exhibitions of artistic handicrafts, vintage cars and motor bikes, visits to the prestigious Sala d ‘Arte San Giovanni, games for children organized by the Piccola Fattoria Forte and with the Ludobus discover old fashioned wooden toys, cooking lessons to learn how to make typical pasta ( “pici”) with the help of village housewives, cooking show by local restaurants and Slow Food offering traditional dishes. The Theatrical Company “ Talenti Tintinnanti” interpret readings of  texts dedicated to wine, followed by wine tasting.

From 8pm. onwards  Orcia  Doc wine will be the real protagonist of the evening with the opening of the tasting stands of twelve wineries:  Campotondo, Capitoni Marco, Donatella Cinelli Colombini, Il Pero, Le Crete, Podere Albiano, Podere Forte, Poggio Grande, Roberto Mascelloni, SassodiSole, Tenuta Castelnuovo Tancredi, Az. Agr. Trequanda. Not forgetting  the guided wine tasting organized by the ONAV Siena delegation of wine tasters with the participation of the producers in the historic boardroom in Piazza Vecchietta.

Then during this magical night of shooting stars there is music and entertainment with the exhibition of the Maggiaioli of Castiglione d’Orcia, heirs of an jealously preserved ancient  tradition, the concert of the trio Tritone in Piazza Vecchietta and the extraordinary exhibition of artists and luminous stilt walkers called “Giullari del 2000”.

This event will also have its Instagram Challenge: until 15 August it will be possible to share shots of the evening with the tag#orciacalici #orciadoc #igerssiena and participate in the challenge organized by the Consortium of Orcia winein collaboration with the community of Instagramers Siena. There will be a nice surprise for the most original photo!

But Calici di Stelle doesn’t end here…….on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 August you can dine with the Producers, “Cena con il Produttore” in 4 restaurants: Le Rocche, Trattoria Il Ritrovino, Il Cerchio delle Streghe and Taverna Pian delle Mura (Vivo d’Orcia).

Calici di Stelle is an event promoted by the National Association Cities of Wine and the Association of Wine Tourism (Moviment del Turismo del Vino). Locally in the Orcia Valley it is organized by the Castiglione d’Orcia town council in collaboration with the Consortium of  Orcia Wine, the Orcia Wine Route and ONAV Siena.

Castiglione d’Orcia, some historical facts

 In 1714 Castiglione d’Orcia was a castle owned by the Aldobrandeschi family, a noble Senese family. For a short period it was an independent state then in the fourteenth century became part of the properties of Siena. Its high position overlooking the Orcia Valley made it a kind of sentinel along the Cassia  and the Francigena Route. This position, particularly of the Rocca di Tentennano higher up on the opposite side of the rocky spur, was the cause of sieges and battles for the possession of the strategic fortress.

There are two beautiful churches, Santa Maria Maddalena and the Pieve of  Santi Stefano e Degna, whose most important paintings are on display in the Sala d’Arte in the town center. In the district you can see the castle of the Ripa, the bell tower of Campiglia and the enormous wells, the one in Rocca d’Orcia is the biggest in the province.

Saint Catherine of Siena stayed in the Rocca di Tentennano where in 1367 she learnt to write. The area has various springs, the most important of which is at Vivo d’Orcia: it has provided water for the city of Siena for many years

In the mid twentieth century Castiglione d’Orcia had a  population of around 5,000 inhabitants but at present only about half of these still remain. The main activities are agriculture and tourism, particularly connected to the spas where for example the ancient hot waters have formed the white gully of Bagni San Filippo.

Consortium of Orcia wine Orcia DOC

The denomination Orcia was born on 14 February 2000 and includes the variety “ Orcia” obtained from red grapes at least 60% of which are Sangiovese and “Orcia Sangiovese” with at least 90% of these grapes, also in the “Riserva” wine. Then as well there are White and Rosé  Orcia wines and Vin Santo.

The wine testifies to the commitment and passion of the producers, most of whom do everything directly, from working in the vineyard to the sale  of the bottles. In an era of globalization Orcia wine is still a family product, made by people who live surrounded by the vineyards, respecting nature and using their excellent competence in the field of oenology and grape growing

Orcia wine is produced in one of the most beautiful agricultural areas in the world, part of which is listed in the UNESCO heritage sites. 12 municipalities: Buonconvento, Castiglione d’Orcia, Pienza, Radicofani, San Quirico d’Orcia, Trequanda and part of Abbadia San Salvatore, Chianciano Terme, Montalcino, San Casciano dei Bagni, Sarteano and Torrita di Siena.