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.
Once upon a Vine...
A movie about a biodynamic farm in southern California reminded me of all the great adventures we've had at Montemaggiore. Full of highs and lows but ultimately our experiences farming grapevines and olive trees have been life-affirming and soul-expanding. Continue »
Permalink
Be the first to comment on this postDrought and Wine at Montemaggiore
The past few years have brought droughts to Montemaggiore, and although we are quite water efficient, we are definitely impacted. Continue »
What makes a great vintage?
Numerous factors go into a great vintage for wine, typically sun and rain—but at the right time and in the right proportions. Continue »
Winery Powered by the Sun
We always wanted solar panels for the winery, and now they are responsible for generating over 90% of our winery's energy. The serve double-duty by shading the winery building, which now requires less cooling. Continue »
Farming with Chickens
There is a reason most farms have chickens: they work hard! Chickens are a great addition to Montemaggiore, not only do they provide eggs, but they eat bugs in the vineyard, scratchto keep the native grasses down, and improve soil fertility. We've been trying to integrate more animals into our biodynamic farm, and chickens are the latest step. Continue »
The Great Cork Debate
In many ways, cork is the perfect closure for a bottle of wine. But there are rumors of its demise, and what about TCA and other quality issues? Learn why Montemaggiore uses cork exclusively for our wines. Continue »
Biodynamic Certification: is it necessary?
Many people say their vineyards are farmed organically and/or biodynamically, yet they aren't certified as such. Does it matter? Yes! Continue »
Dec 15, 2009 at 4:43 PM