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 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 »

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 »

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 »

Wine Etiquette: tips & tricks for serving wine
Should I decant the wines? What temperature should I serve it at? What should I do if the cork crumbles? How much should I fill each glass? Here are various tips and tricks we've gathered over the years in the wine business. Continue »

The Wine Lover’s Dilemma: drink now or later?
We've all contemplated a special bottle of wine, wondering whether to open it now or wait because it may taste better in a few years? Here are a few tips and tools for evaluating the ageability of wines. 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 »

Olive Oil Demystified
Just the names alone for olive oil can be confusiing. And what does "extra virgin, cold pressed" mean anyway? And why should you care? Learn all the fundamentals of olive oil enjoyment. 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 »