Raymond Lamothe

Bio

We live in the heart of the Chianti Classico Region of Tuscany, in Italy. Anna Rita and I dedicate our time to two main activities: We run a farming estate where we produce Chianti Classico wine, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and raise the rare Cinta Senese breed of pigs in our woodlands. We are among the few agricultural estates that contributed to the preservation from extinction of these rare animals. Today we are the largest breeder in the Siena Province and have a laboratory on the farm where we produce and age the famous traditional Tuscan pork products: Prosciutto, salami, finocchiona, salt pork, etc. The meat is all certified by the Protected Denomination of Origin, Suino Cinto Toscano DOP. We hold tastings of our products on the estate in the afternoons of monday, tuesday, thursday and saturday, or by appointment (just contact us at tuscanray@gmail.com). The tastings are free, and if guests like the products, they can purchase them from our estate shop and we will then ship them "door to door" anywhere in the world. We have an international clientele, with a lot of American fans for our wines, while our Cinta products are primarily sold in Italy and in the European countries. We are also Tour Operators with a travel agency in Castellina in Chianti that we have been running for the past 28 years. We are specialized in holiday rentals of Villas, farmhouses and residential complexes in Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio and Piedmont. The website is at www.tuscanenterprises.com. I also host a blog about all things Italian, including current events, special offers, rental advice and anything people want to know from someone who has lived in Italy for the past 35 years. The blog is at www.tuscanenterprise.it and it is becoming ever more popular, so do write if you have any kind of questions about Italy. I am half American and half Italian, so who can better help you understand the intricacies of this wonderful country and its beautiful people? tuscanray@gmail.com