The juniper berries trade, a business we discovered has been part of the Dòmini family since 1850. Family archives and albums reveal the figure of our great-great-grandfather, Ercole Dòmini: a juniper berry merchant active in the Tuscan countryside during the 19th century. His name (undoubtedly evocative) conveyed trust and competence, and perhaps rightly so; the […]
In the late 19th century, agricultural life in the Tuscan countryside had an orderly rhythm marked by the seasons, rituals, and social customs. The lack of transportation necessitated the presence of a figure to connect the farms with neighboring villages. This was the Treccone. The term derives from the Tuscan verb “treccare” (to sell by […]
Small billhooks (roncolini) were used on every farm for processing Iris Pallida, at least four per family. They were used only for one month a year and were used to work the iris. Crafted by the local blacksmith from the finest steel available, they had a handle of chestnut or beech wood. They were used […]
In our Hystoric Chianti, harvesting juniper berries has always been a seasonal activity. Every year, from mid-August until the beginning of the harvest, every farming family took part in the harvest. On every farm, the elders taught the young how to harvest juniper berries. It was a true art. No branch was to be damaged, […]
