Sting Opens Specialty Food Store in Tuscany

Aside from being one of the world’s most famous musicians, Sting has been producing food products at his organic farm on a 900-acre estate in Tuscany for years. He sells products—such as extra virgin olive oil; acacia, chestnut and honeydew honey; wine; and salumi made from a local breed of pig—directly to high-end outlets in the U.S. and Britain, including Harrods. Now, food lovers and fans are able to buy his products directly from the estate store called Tenuta il Palagio, which opened in August.

The estate itself is foodie heaven. Located southeast of the city of Florence, near the small town of Figline Valdarno, it is comprised of a 16th century villa, wooded lands, olive groves, a swimming pool, a recording studio and a vineyard that turns out 30,000 bottles of Chianti a year. The farm, which combines modern organic methods with time-honored Tuscan farming traditions, is maintained by 15 workers as well as seasonal employees. 

Sting and his wife Trudie Styler, are no strangers to organic farming. They also have had an organic farm in Wiltshire, England, for the past 15 years. Every year there, they sell 100 Christmas hampers filled with products from their farm, including blackcurrant jam and beetroot chutney as well as champagne, for about $300 U.S. —Denise Shoukas

Denise Shoukas is a regular foodspring.com contributor and is the author of foodspring’s food forager blog.

0 comments