The flavor of Tuscany: how territory and diet make Renieri cured meats unique

Have you ever savored one of our Renieri cured meats and thought: “But where does this special, authentic flavor come from?”

Of course, our artisan craftsmanship and family recipes play an important role, but there’s an even deeper secret, an almost magical link that connects our products to the land they originate from. We’re talking about the Tuscan “terroir“: it’s not just a somewhat French word, but the very essence of our region – the air you breathe, the lush woods, the changing seasons, and even the cereals that grow under our sun.

Today, we want to take you on a small journey to understand how all of this so profoundly influences the unmistakable taste of Cinta Senese meat and, consequently, gives that unique character to Renieri cured meats.

We often hear this word, “terroir,” especially when talking about great wines. But what does it really mean, just between us, as if we were chatting over a good glass of wine?

Imagine a specific place: its particular climate, the type of soil we walk on, the plants that grow there spontaneously, the altitude, the sun exposure… well, the combination of all these elements is the terroir.

It’s like the soul of that place, and this soul, in some way, transfers into everything produced there. It influences the taste of grapes and olive oil, of course, but also, and profoundly, the meat of the animals that live and feed in that environment. It’s like a fingerprint that nature leaves on its gifts, making them unique and unrepeatable.

Our Tuscany is truly fortunate from this point of view. We have a microclimate that many envy: the seasons follow each other with a balanced rhythm, rain arrives when needed, the sun is generous but also knows when to step aside. This special climate favors the growth of very rich and ever-changing vegetation, a true natural buffet for animals that, like our Cinta Senese, are lucky enough to live outdoors, breathing this clean air.

The true heart of the Cinta Senese’s diet, raised the way we like it at Renieri – free to move and explore – is undoubtedly the woods. It’s an open-air pantry, rich in treasures: oaks, holm oaks, and chestnut trees not only offer shelter but also sweet and nutritious acorns, flavorful chestnuts, fragrant roots, hidden tubers, and an incredible variety of wild herbs and small fruits that our pigs sniff out with their infallible sense of smell, rooting happily. This natural and varied diet is the primary source of those unique aromas – hints of hazelnut, scents of the undergrowth – that we then pleasantly find in the complexity of the meat.

Of course, to ensure our animals always have a balanced diet and complete nutrition in every season, supplementation is sometimes necessary. But here too, the connection with our Tuscan territory is a fixed point for us. This supplementation, in fact, is done exclusively with noble raw materials of local origin: mainly cereals grown here in Tuscany, such as barley, corn, fava beans, and the precious alfalfa.

Even these cereals, grown under our sun and on our land, are not a detail, but contribute to defining the character of the terroir and the final aromatic profile of the meat, adding a further note of authenticity and connection to our Tuscan roots. And, as you know if you’ve been following us for a while, it’s an unyielding commitment for us: no GMO ingredients enter our animals’ diet. We firmly believe in a diet that is as natural and genuine as possible.

Emphasizing the importance of this diet, which combines the spontaneous gifts of the forest with the best fruits of our local agriculture, makes it clear how fundamental respect for the territory is for us at Renieri. Our choice to raise the Cinta Senese (through our controlled supply chain) extensively, allowing it to feed freely on what this unique environment offers, is our way of capturing the purest essence of the Tuscan terroir and transferring it into our cured meats. It’s a daily commitment to excellent quality that stems precisely from this deep and sincere respect.

So, the next time you have the pleasure of savoring a slice of our Cinta Senese DOP Prosciutto, or a good Renieri salami, we invite you to play a little game, almost a conscious tasting.

Close your eyes for a moment and concentrate on the flavors.

Can you feel that balanced sweetness, never cloying?

Those delicate notes reminiscent of dried fruit, like hazelnuts or almonds, a precious gift from the acorns our pigs fed on?

And perhaps that rounder, fuller nuance, also given by the good cereals of our land?

That slightly aromatic aftertaste, which almost smells of wild herbs and clean air?

This, friends, is the Tuscan territory speaking to you, in all its wonderful facets. It’s the direct result of an animal that lived free, feeding on the gifts of our woods and the fruits of our fields. It’s the landscape transforming into taste, a tangible link that makes our products so special and authentically representative of the true flavors of Tuscany.

There’s something truly special, almost magical, in the way our Tuscan land, the unique Cinta Senese breed, its natural and carefully controlled diet, and the respectful work of man merge to create excellent quality products like Renieri cured meats.

It’s a delicate balance, the result of an unparalleled environment and a tradition that we, as a family, strive to preserve every day with pride, authenticity, and transparency.

Choosing a Renieri cured meat, therefore, is not simply bringing a good product to your table. It’s choosing to savor an authentic piece of Tuscany, a taste that tells a story made of pristine nature, of animals raised with respect and fed with the best of our territory, and of a passion passed down from generation to generation.

The next time you enjoy a Renieri cured meat, close your eyes: perhaps you’ll truly be able to smell our woods and taste our fields. It’s our simple and sincere way of bringing a piece of our beloved Tuscany directly to your table.