Appassionata New Website

Appassionata has launched a new website today...........please check it out and let us know what you think. Many Thanks.

Appassionata New Website

www.appassionata.com

Le Marche....the best of Italy in wrapped up in one region!

A short but wonderful photographic snapshot of the un-spoilt and undiscovered Italian region of Le Marche!

 

The secrets out!

 

 

ONLY ONE SHARE REMAINING!!!!

The ramblings of a mad man: Tribal Movement and that old friend synchronicity

We can all learn a great deal from this special man!

Please click on the ink below to read his inspirational blog!

The ramblings of a mad man: Tribal Movement and that old friend synchronicity:

"2001 south London: To earn is important but to believe is essential . The fire was lit, I didn't really know it at the time but my fate..."

Appassionata - Truffle Orchard (Tartufaia)

“If you go down to the Italian hills today…”  
In the spring of 2011, a small farm orchard of delicious delicacies hailed the world over as ‘The Diamonds of the Kitchen’ has been freshly planted in the Italian grounds of Appassionata's Estate Giacomo Leopardi in Montefiore dell’Aso, Le Marche.

These ‘little black diamonds’ are none other than Perigord Black Truffles, and are normally grown exclusively under Oak trees, in this case, the evergreen Holm Oak. Truffles are among the world’s pre-eminent culinary delicacies, black truffles are refined and their scent is reminiscent of fresh earth and mushrooms. Revered for millennia, only the high price truffles command has kept pace with their fame.

Truffles are a form of mushroom that grows underground in symbiotic association with the roots of trees. They have been around for millennia, used in Ancient Roman times, throughout the Middle East in the 1500s and through to the European Renaissance. The breakthrough that made their mass cultivation possible was the modern development of technology which allowed the inoculation of trees with the truffle fungus under controlled conditions. This process has proven successful over the past 20 years in Europe, cultivating Tuber Melanosporum (Perigord Black Truffles) among other species.

To cultivate truffles, inoculated truffle trees are planted in orchards, much like those for fruits and nuts, except that the crop appears below ground and is usually harvested with the help of trained dogs or pigs that can smell the truffles through a layer of earth. Truffles begin to appear several years after the inoculated seedlings are planted and production can continue for decades. 
The onset and duration of production depends to some extent on the species of host tree. Yields vary dramatically: some plantations produce as much as 60 Kilograms per acre each year while others produce little. Typical yields in Europe range between 11 and 16 kilograms per acre each year, but as methods improve many more plantations are achieving yields in excess of 45 kilograms per acre.

Appassionata decided to add a truffle orchard as an additional benefit to owners buying into their luxury and boutique fractional ownership Estate in Le Marche Italy., Owners currently buy a fractional share of a property at Estate Giacomo Leopardi which includes ownership of a portion of the vineyard, olive oil groves and lavender plantations. 

The 300 square meter orchard has 17 Holm Oak trees inoculated with the Tuber Melanosporum fungus (the Perigord Black Truffle), under sterile conditions by Professor Mattia Bencivenga a Botanist of Perugia University, Italy. 

Michael Hobbs of Appassionata says, “This is a very unique addition to our fractional ownership property, further adding to our desire to give owners a real Italian lifestyle experience. We hope to see truffles being formed under the trees within 5 to 10 years; not too long to wait!”

Retail prices around the world vary but for Tuber Melanosporum, the Perigord truffle, often exceed £1000 a kilogram. Most truffles are harvested in the wild and since the wild supply is diminishing, prices continue to climb. Owners investing in Appassionata’s properties will share in all the truffles found at Estate Giacomo Leopardi. 

What a fantastic prospect; your very own delicious truffles, combined with your wine and olive oil! An Italian dream made into reality, Appassionata caters for every aficionado. Come and see for yourself, Appassionata is waiting to astound you.

Leicester Mercury Newspaper Article - My Story!

Aspiratonal Magazine - A Great Article about Appassionata

Open publication - Free publishing - More vineyard