Since I have been living in the Tuscan countryside I have noticed that a sense of place is disappearing in the modern world, that distinctions and traditions which characterize it are being eroded by homogenization. This seems to be leading to the loss of the ability to appreciate quality - quality, that is, as the essence or special nature of a thing. Characteristics are formed by a series of uni
que relationships between the climate, the earth, the vegetation, individual sensibility and the past. They are directly reflected in the produce or cultural expression of specific natural environments. Place makes a qualitative difference. In the area surrounding the Amiata I was lucky to discover that many local traditions and practices have survived. It represented to me a model of ‘place’, and the reasons why its traditions must be continued. In ancient times, castles were fortresses designed as a central gathering point, trading post and protector of the community. In recent years they have become private, accessible only to those who can afford to own them. We strive to make this place an important part of the community, accessible to people from all walks of life. For most of us there is no real connection between the things we eat and drink and where they come from and how they are made. We believe that this is intrinsically unhealthy, for ourselves and for the environment. I work on a didactic level with young people from all over the world who in exchange for food and lodging learn about how to make wine and extra virgin olive oil, how to cook local cuisine, and how to enjoy the toil and bounty of the Tuscan countryside. I fight to protect the countryside from developers, conserving the traditional vocations of the land. Potentino is a place that tells you what it needs, it imposes a rigour and a social dynamic. It makes you live in a certain way, a way that comes from an archaic understanding of the spirit of place and a reverence for its natural beauty. This experience can transform and succour people, especially in this age of barbarism and wasteful consumerism.
