Many people thinking of Italy's great wine regions will start with names like Tuscany and Piedmont. However, there is an area in Southern Italy that deserves just as much attention, especially for those who love robust red wines: Taurasi. This is where Aglianico grapes come to life, and where the very first DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) in Southern Italy was created in 1993. We take you on a journey into the fascinating story of Aglianico grapes and Taurasi, the flagship red wine of "the Mezzogiorno" region.

If you've ever had the opportunity to explore Italian cuisine, you've probably heard of guanciale. This extraordinary ingredient is a true treasure in the Italian culinary world, and it has the power to transform simple dishes into tasty masterpieces. In this blog post, we will take you on a culinary journey through the world of guanciale and show you how to use it to elevate your Italian dishes to a higher level.

The tomato - a vibrant and versatile fruit that has become an indispensable part of kitchens all around the world. In fact, we can't really imagine Italy without the tomato, but did you know that the tomato didn't exist in Europe for a long time? What's even more fascinating is that the history of the tomato in Europe began as yellow, not red. Italy played a crucial role in the introduction of the tomato, and now they can't do without it.

There are countless different wines in existence. These differences arise from the characteristics of the grape, the soil, and the climate, but also from the choices of the winemaker. To understand the differences between wines, it's important to have some knowledge of the winemaking process. Let's start with the most obvious difference: why is wine white or red? Is this dependent on the color of the grape? Not exactly, as the color of the grape doesn't determine the color of the wine. Wine color arises from the production process, and this process also creates the unique taste distinctions between red and white wine. And while it's sometimes claimed that you can't even taste the difference between red and white when they're both chilled, the fundamental characteristics are indeed different... and you can definitely taste that.

Pasta all'amatriciana is one of our favorite Italian pasta dishes. The dish originates on the border between the Lazio and Abruzzo regions, in the town of Amatrice. The dish is known for its simplicity and rich flavors, which are typical of Italian cuisine.

[Edit: the Mezzo Pop-Up Shop is now closed]

Mezzogiorno opens a pop-up shop in Rotterdam! Here you can come to browse our products, to have a chat or to drink a cup of coffee! It is also possible to taste our products, we will organize various tasting events.

Address: Nieuwe Binnenweg 421, Rotterdam

Opening hours:

• Wed & Thu: 14:00 to 19.00
• Fri: 12:00 to 19:00
• Sat: 12.00 to 17.00

In certain parts of Italy, Easter is more important than Christmas. This is especially evident in Sicily, where, partly due to Spanish influences, the week leading up to Easter is dedicated entirely to processions and other Easter festivities. During this time, life-sized biblical scenes are carried through the city, culminating in the cathedral after a long journey. In Italy, they call this week "Settimana Santa" (the Holy Week). Since many of our farmers are off during Settimana Santa, we took the opportunity to go to Caltanissetta for a few days. The Easter celebrations in central Sicily had been on our bucket list for a while.

Choosing the right olive oil can sometimes be challenging. At Mezzogiorno, we can certainly understand that. Just like with wine, olive oil is a matter of taste. Fortunately, there are some guidelines to help you choose. Let's start at the beginning: At Mezzogiorno, we promise you that our farmers' olive oil is of excellent quality. But what makes olive oil high-quality? You'll find out in this article. In a future blog post, we'll delve into the different flavor profiles of olives from Southern Italy. However, the initial step lies in selecting a high-quality olive oil.