By Chiara Petrella
At the Enoteca Meucci in Cortona there is a collection of over two thousand labels, second in choice and selection only to the great historic shops of Florence.
The charm of wine is an undeniable fact, it is no coincidence that ancestral legends, stories, narratives and symbols are linked to it that make its doctrine a milestone of our cultural tradition.
Entering the Enoteca Meucci you cannot help but feel all this and you will certainly be enchanted. To receive us is an infinite number of bottles, arranged asymmetrically on a fascinating shelf that seems to be made on purpose to enhance the peculiarities of each label, but even more we are struck by the kind smiles of Mauro and Emanuele, owner and sommelier, who come to meet us with affability and modesty, almost unaware of the enchanting place where they are welcoming us. “There are almost two thousand wines here,” says Emanuele with satisfaction, who by virtue of his title and skills mainly takes care of the shop. Yes, because Meucci is not only a wine shop, but also a gourmet restaurant and bar-bistro, a small complex that stands on the road to Cortona, in the hamlet of Riccio, and whose common thread is undoubtedly the passion for the “nectar of the Gods”.
After showing us the wine shop, with its unmistakable rustic style, Mauro takes us to see the restaurant on the upper floor, furnished in a distinct and elegant way, and finally the garden, all rooms recently renovated with evident mastery. We sit outside, in the pergolas adorned with vines and we are told how they work in this very special corner of the world, where the most important ritual is the choice of labels by the owner, sommelier and chef, what we could call a “wine triumvirate” that dedicates daily meetings to the gesture in search of a common line.
“In addition to welcoming guests and visitors here, for those on vacation we also prepare tastings directly in the accommodation facilities and villas, cooking classes, bike and hiking tours and wine tastings in the cellars” explains Mauro. “Another point of pride is the organization of Cortona Wines, an event held in May and which, this year, it has reached its fourth edition. We have brought together all the local producers here for a day of tastings and tastings open to the public. It is a pride for us to be able to offer a space where we can make known and enhance the peculiarities of the vines that grow in our lands, in particular Syrah, typical of Cortona”.
The summer season will open with aperitifs and dinners in the beautiful garden, accompanied by live music that will be every Sunday evening. It is really an elegant and very beautiful location, very suitable for a romantic evening or a party with friends.
“Initially we only had the restaurant in front of us, which has belonged to my family since 1990. It was the classic village shop where you can find a little bit of everything, including tobacco. Here, where the shop is now, we only had two rooms for rent as a warehouse”.
Valley Life: “Where did the idea of opening a wine shop come from”?
Mauro Meucci: “The passion for wine was born about ten years ago from a chat with a producer friend. He suggested that I replace the food shelves with a selection of wines and from there the spring that brought us here was triggered, and there is still work to be done”.
Maybe, but in the meantime in terms of choice and services dedicated to the sector, in Tuscany the Enoteca Meucci comes only after the great historic shops of Florence.
No less important is the restaurant, where Chef Massimo Romano offers gourmet dishes that most of the time have their roots in traditions, including pici all’aglione “version 2.0” or liver pate terrine, the classic Tuscan black crostino in a revisited version. But the menu here changes every three months, by virtue of the seasonality of the products that are always and strictly fresh. All this, needless to say, with great attention to the pairing with the most appropriate wine.
“But what is the best wine in the world?” we finally ask Mauro.
And the answer we receive surprises us again with his respectful modesty: “The one we like”.
For information and reservations:
Località Riccio, 65/66 – 52044 Cortona (Arezzo)
Tel +39 0575 67158 – +39 333 1965439