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.
Fermentation: the key to unlocking Flavor
Fermentation is a miracle. The yeasts are not only creating alcohol, but more importantly, unlocking all the interesting flavor potential from a basically uni-dimensional grape. Continue »
Sep 15, 2013 at 7:25 AM
Permalink
Be the first to comment on this postNot all Rosés are created equal
Montemaggiore makes an intentional rosé with pure red fruit flavors and lower alcohol—but some rosé is just a by-product of making red wine. Learn about the differences, and why you should care. 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 »
Crush = Excitement + Anxiety + Thrill
The harvest season, fondly known as "Crush", is a thrilling time here in Wine Country. It's exciting, nerve-wracking and satisfying all at the same time. Learn about a typical harvest day at Montemaggiore and the cardio-vascular workout that Lise gets. Continue »
All you need to know about Wine Bottles
You may not think about the glass bottle which holds the wine, but it and all the packaging can tell you a lot about the wine. Continue »
Oak barrels have profound influences
Oak barrels have a long history of helping winemakers produce a better wine. They are, however, really expensive and winemakers weigh many factors in deciding on the perfect barrels. Continue »
Syrah in Hermitage versus Healdsburg
Vincent and I went to the "Mecca" of Syrah and stayed in Tain L'Hermitage to revel in the wines, the vineyards, and the fabulous food. We couldn't help comparing and contrasting our vineyard and winery in Healdsburg with those of Hermitage. 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 »
Cabernet - Syrah Blends
Montemaggiore is one of the few wineries producing a Cabernet-Syrah blend, which we happen to call Nobile. Learn how we decide on the exact blend and why you don't see more of these types of wines. Continue »
Natural Fermentations
Natural fermentations, native fermentations, spontaneous fermentations—whatever you call them, they are quite interesting to winemakers! Continue »