The Magpie’s Guide to Montalcino: A Cultural Wine Journey
Several years ago, I booked a winery tour in Montalcino that turned out to be as entertaining as it was enlightening. Laura R. Gray, an Oxford literature graduate turned wine expert, had me laughing while learning – her wit and wisdom about Brunello matched only by her treasure trove of cultural insights.
Laura’s book, The Magpie’s Guide to Montalcino, sparkles with that same clever, engaging spirit. Opening with Salman Rushdie’s observation that “to unlock a society, look at its untranslatable words,” Gray reveals fascinating Italian terms like “coltura promiscua” and “flavescenza dorata” that I now treasure like vintage Brunello.
One of my favorite passages explains “Passo del Lume Spento,” a road I’ve driven countless times between Montalcino and Grosseto. On clear winter days, this spectacular mountain pass offers views stretching across Maremma to the Tuscan archipelago, even reaching Corsica’s snowy peaks. The name’s origin? Horse-drawn carriages would consistently find their lanterns extinguished by the powerful winds at this height.
Among the book’s treasures is a poignant revelation: Hemingway lived to write thanks to a young man from Montalcino who sacrificed himself to save the author. Whether you’re passionate about Tuscan wine and culture, or simply love to sprinkle dinner conversations with fascinating titbits, Gray’s guide is an absolute delight and – with Christmas approaching – makes for a great present.
The Magpie’s Guide to Montalcino is published by Constellations Press.
Find Laura on Instagram or via The Magpie’s Guide to Montalcino website.
