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March 2007
For those not familiar with the Sicilian dialect, this translates into (Florentine) Italian as "L'acqua fa male e il vino fa cantare", or in plain ol' English as "Water makes you sick and wine makes you sing". (Obviously advice from a bygone era, this proverb may once again be relevant if we don't take care of our aquifers.) This month we'll "sing" the praises of our sheep, a special vineyard event in May, our latest wine lover, and the barrel room news.
Pecori a Montemaggiore!
In keeping with our organic and biodynamic philosophy, twelve sheep (pecori) have arrived at Montemaggiore just in time to "mow" all the spring grasses in the vineyards. Our son Paolo has named them after various pastas, Rotini being his favorite. An ancient breed called Babydolls bred for their petite size, Rotini and her friends fit right under the vines and trellising. These names are especially fitting because sheep must have been the original "spaghetti heads"—not exactly the smartest animals. But intelligence is not required (and in fact may be a hazard) for this job! Our steep hillsides intimidate most people, but the sheep are unfazed as they keep the grasses well-clipped while providing us with organic fertilizer. Visit Montemaggiore to say "Buon Giorno" to Rotini, Cappellini, Farfalle, Penne, Fusilli & Linguine (the girls); along with Buccatini, Mostaccioli, Rigatoni, Fettucine, Gnocchi & Ravioli (the boys).
Montemaggiore's Day in the Vineyard
Join us on Saturday May 12 for a day in Montemaggiore's estate vineyards learning about the special viticultural techniques which make our Syrahs unique and terroir-specific. Vincent will discuss soil composition, pruning, biodynamics, organic farming, and canopy management—all in the name of quality! We will tour the vineyard, enjoy a wine country lunch overlooking gorgeous Dry Creek Valley, and finish up with a bocce tournament. More information and reservations.
His Stanley Cup overfloweth...
with wine
What do the Philadelphia Flyers and Montemaggiore Syrah have in common? Joe Watson, wine aficionado! Thirty years after leading the Flyers to two Stanley Cups, Joe still has the boundless enthusiasm and strong work ethic that makes Philly proud. While retired from the ice, he still eats very healthy and never sits still—he even makes his own pesto! Now there's a man after our own heart (and stomach). Joe's favorite wines include those from the Okanagan Valley (in British Columbia where he grew up) and Sonoma County (especially Montemaggiore). In fact, he's been a driving force in bringing our wines east!
From the Barrel Room
Now that harvest and the holidays are over, life is a bit calmer for the Ciolino family! All eight lots of 2006 wine, each from different areas of our estate vineyards, have completed malolactic fermentation (which softens some acids and adds complexity). During the barrel aging process, we're watching the individual characters of each lot emerge, which is one of the most enlightening, nail-biting, and thrilling aspects of winemaking. Perhaps like watching your child grow up, we try to do all the right things for our wines: steer them in the right direction, provide the right environment, fuss and worry over them—but ultimately, they're going to do what they are going to do! Thus far with the Syrahs, we notice a bit more spice and a fuller mid-palate than we've seen in the past at this stage, which could be attributed to vintage variation or perhaps the 15% whole clusters we added (i.e., stems weren't removed). We won't bottle our 2006 wines until 2008, and we won't release them until 2009, so there's a lot more time left for character development! For those of you who can't wait that long, and want to get started with the 2002 or 2003 wines, they can be available at your doorstep!
Upcoming Events in California
For those of you who live or travel in
California, you can taste our wines at several upcoming events:
San Francisco at Rhone Rangers on Sunday, March 18
Healdsburg at Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley Passport on Sunday April 29
Paso Robles at Hospice du Rhone on Friday-Saturday, May 4th-5th
Healdsburg at Montemaggiore's Day in the Vineyard on Saturday May 12
Or just come visit us on your own schedule. We are open for tours and tastings by
appointment (707.433.9499 or info@montemaggiore.com).
Have a wonderful Spring!
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