Montemaggiore Blog
We are winegrowers not professional writers, thus this blog will probably only be updated a few times a year. In fact most of these posts either have appeared or will appear in our quarterly newsletter. Having said that, we hope you enjoy our insights on winemaking and winegrowing on a boutique level. We welcome your opinions and questions—and even your suggestions on future topics.

Wine is like Art: You are the Expert
Wine is good for the soul, but it can also be intimidating, difficult to get to know, and complex--just like Art. And also just like art, you should have supreme confidence in your own taste! Continue »

Wine Cocktails...really?
A hot trend these days are Wine Cocktails. What are they? Why adulterate a good wine? Lise relates her newfound experience making wine cocktails with bitters. You might be very surprised! Continue »

Steve Jobs taught me everything I know...
Early in my career, I worked for Steve Jobs, who taught me three very important but unconventional lessons about the wine business. The experience molded me into who I am today, and made Montemaggiore wines what they are. Continue »

Vintage Chart for Paolo's Vineyard Syrah
We recently tasted every single vintage of Paolo’s Vineyard Syrah that we’ve ever produced—an exciting and enlightening event given that we don't often taste all these wines side-by-side. The resulting vintage chart will help you decide whether to open that special bottle of Montemaggiore Syrah now or hang on to it. Continue »

Lise's Top 20 Books on Wine
Have you read any great wine books lately? Perhaps Lise's favorites will provide some inspiration! Continue »

Wine Aromas, Syrah, and Rotundone
“Pepper”, “leathery”, “hints of cocoa”... do you find wine descriptors to be helpful? Come explore the magical, mystical world of wine aromas with us by focusing in on the “pepper” aroma commonly found in Syrah, the varietal we specialize in here at Montemaggiore. Continue »

Hosting a Vertical Tasting
A fun way to learn about wines is to host a Vertical Wine Tasting, in which you taste several vintages of the same wine from the same producer. Continue »

Berry Sensory Analysis: this winemaker's favorite harvest tool
How does a winemaker precisely assess ripeness in grapes? And do flavors in the grapes translate into flavors in the wine? The answers to these questions lend insight into how Montemaggiore chooses when to harvest the grapes. Continue »

Blending Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier into 3Divas
White Rhône blends are a great alternative to the ubiquitous Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Each of the three main varietals have wonderful aromas, which adds layers of complexity&which is why Montemaggiore decided to add 3Divas to the portfolio. Continue »

In Vino Veritas: Syrafina gives a nod to Côte Rôtie
The newest wine in Montemaggiore's portfolio, Syrafina, was inspired by Côte Rôtie, the Rhone sub-region in France that produces Syrahs with a secret ingredient. Continue »