The Farm

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=206 BGCOLOR="#BBBBBB" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="14dc0900.jpg" border=0 width="192" height="144" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="151c48c0.jpg" border=0 width="196" height="140" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="14bc0900.jpg" border=0 width="192" height="144" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#DDDDDD" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >Casa Rondini</FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Casa Rondini"><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About the area"><U>About the area</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Apartments"><U>The Apartments</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Facilities"><U>Facilities</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Prices"><U>Prices</U></A>   |   <B>The Farm</B>   |   <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to Find Us"><U>How to Find Us</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#DDDDDD" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I><B>The Farm</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Organic extra virgin olive oil</B></I></div> <bR> <div> We specialise in producing our own organic extra virgin olive oil, we have 1,200 olive trees whose ages vary from 20 to hundreds of years.</div> <bR> <div> There are many varieties of olive trees growing on our land: frantoio, dolce agogia, leccino, pendolino, moraiolo. The blend of all of them make a unique taste to the olive oil.</div> <bR> <div> We pick olives every year in the beginning of November and we welcome anyone who would like to join us!  It is hard but very rewarding work.  We use nets and modern shakers which help us to the work productively and efficiently.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="12dfabc0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="188" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <IMG SRC="12ffabc0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="188" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <IMG SRC="131fabc0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="188" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <IMG SRC="133eebe0.jpg" border=0 width="238" height="190" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> We press the olives in a modern oil mill (frantoio) in Monteleone d'Orvieto but also recently discovered an old fashioned cold press frantoio in Parrano.  The smell of fresh olive oil is amazing!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Organic grapes</B></I></div> <bR> <div> We have a hectare (over two acres) of vine.  The vineyard was planted about 40 years ago with a range of quality local grapes: ciliegiolo, san giovese, cabernet.</div> <bR> <div> Vine needs a lot of care over the whole year but it is a very rewarding job.  The harvest is a special event, its time can vary from the late September until the end of October, depending on the weather throughout the year.  When the sugar level is right, the grapes are hand picked and taken down to the cantina when the wine process begins.</div> <bR> <div> Sadly the existing vineyard grew too old and we could not produce nice quality vine anymore, but in 2008 we planted new vine.  It was not easy to choose the best variety, as there are so many on the market.  After long research based on the soil composition, climate and the grapes flavour, we selected montepulciano, sangiovese, cabernet, grechetto and chardonnay.  In about 2011, we should have good crop and we hope to make a lovely organic wine.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="153fab20.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="178" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <IMG SRC="139fab30.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="179" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <IMG SRC="135fcb30.jpg" border=0 width="252" height="179" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <IMG SRC="137f1b50.jpg" border=0 width="241" height="181" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Saffron</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Saffron is one of the most fascinating spices and one we are very proud of.  We cultivate saffron in a small field using traditional crop techniques.  All the cultivation procedures are done by hand.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="13bfabc0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="188" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <IMG SRC="13dfabc0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="188" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <IMG SRC="13fe1bb0.jpg" border=0 width="225" height="187" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <IMG SRC="141fabc0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="188" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> We dig up all the corms at the end of each vegetation cycle (July/August), then the soil is worked, adding fertiliser and the corms are replanted.  This technique allows producing better quality saffron with longer stigmas, but it is the hardest part of growing saffron!  Just imagine how hard the clay soil is under the hot Italian sun in July and August!  With hand tools which are very primitive!</div> <bR> <div> Saffron flowers come in October and November and the season lasts 2 to 3 weeks.  We pick them by hand every morning (best job in the world!), before the flowers open.  This is to avoid damaging the saffron flavour.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="143fab30.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="179" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <IMG SRC="145eeb30.jpg" border=0 width="238" height="179" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="147f0b40.jpg" border=0 width="240" height="180" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <IMG SRC="149f2b60.jpg" border=0 width="242" height="182" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The stamens are separated straight away after the harvest and desiccated at low temperatures.</div> <bR> <div> Saffron can be used in preparation of many wonderful meals.  We love to do saffron risotto.  We also use saffron on potatoes, fish, soups and meat.  Some cheese and desserts are also made with saffron and you add it into the olive oil to make a special taste. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-640260-2"; urchinTracker(); </script>  </div> </td> </tr></table></body>