Viva la Repubblica

Nina told me that her name is Nina because she can literally say "Never Na". For me, this "Nina" stands for pure joie de vivre. It is her passion that drives her on and has taken her from Salzburg to Panzano in Chianti. Panzano, a small town with around two thousand inhabitants and almost five hundred hectares of mainly organic vineyards, or in short, Nina's second home and personal open-air office, or in other words: the wine wonderland with heart and cock.

Via her online store NinainChianti.com, she provides fans of good taste with wines from the Chianti Classico region and die-hard fans with news via the "Nina in Chianti" blog. Speaking of die-hards: in addition to excellent wines, the local butcher and his specialties are also extremely popular and are now enjoyed worldwide. Dario Cecchini, a thoroughbred butcher with a strong dash of rock'n roll. One man, one axe, one air guitar. If his performance doesn't leave you open-mouthed, your jaw will drop when you taste the delicious Bistecca Panzanese on your plate. Grande Dario, the ambassador of meat whose motto "Beef or not to Beef" is carried out into the world.

And he has now also proclaimed the Repubblica Gastronomica di Panzano. A gastronomic republic whose inhabitants have wine in their veins and are certainly not vegetarians, whose joie de vivre should be infectious and turn short-term gourmets into true connoisseurs. And when the winegrowers get together to welcome one of these inhabitants, it can only be "Nina in Chianti". So raise your glasses and toast to "La nuova cittadina Nina".