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newsletter

2021 year-end report

posted on 17 December 2021

Here we are at the end of 2021, and it has been even more stressful and challenging from various points of view: the freeze we had in the spring; the uncertainties we are all aware of, that make it so hard to make long-term plans; the work that we had to do, which exceeded all mid-year and later projections; and finally our usual autumn newsletter is off the presses so late.

Cantrina is known for producing, in very limited editions, wines whose hallmarks are decisive personalities and strong characters, in some cases utterly unique, wines that targeted to niche markets of dedicated wine-lovers and represent the quintessence and vital spirit of our winery. Once again, therefore, we want to thank all of you, for you are not simply customers but real friends as well, loyal fans who every year accompany us on our adventure and support us, through your visits to our cellar and your appreciation of what we make. Here is some summary information:

Growing year

“Little but fine”: the spring freeze, right from budbreak on, reduced the crop way down, but with much patience and attention, we were able, at the end, to bring into the cellar high-quality fruit. We’ll certainly not have as many bottles of some of our wines, but there will be some significant surprises as well, especially regarding our more cellarable wines.

New vintages

We just released Nepomuceno 2017 -and some of you have already have it in your cellar!-, whereas the new vintages of the rosés, both Rosanoire and Valtènesi Chiaretto will be ready in late February. Spring will see the debuts of Zerdí 2019 and Groppello 2021. A new development regards the bottle label of Groppello, which will change its name to MYGroppello, to underscore the fact that it is our own very personal interpretation of this native grape.

Riné

Another important piece of news regards Riné our only white. The supply of the 2019 vintage just ran out, and after lengthy, serious consideration we decided to put off at least until autumn 2022 release of Riné 2020. True, it has been in the bottle now since 23 July, but it simply needs more maturation time to fully express its personality, and we felt than now is the right time to return to giving it the time and attention it richly deserves. We spent time considering all aspects of this move, and in some ways the decision was very difficult, but I hope that the outcome will be understood and appreciated at the appropriate moment in its future. In any case, we will shortly give you a more detailed report on this.

Meet up with us

The Mercato dei Vignaioli just took place, and the next edition will be at Vinitaly 2022 in the FIVI area...

We wish all of you and your families a Happy Christmas! And we await you in the cellar in 2022! Cristina and Diego

Cantrina in real time

posted on 4 March 2011
I am writing from New York… I try in English (no time, unfortunately to have our dear Michael Benson translating for us). The weather is fine, better than in Italy, chilly temperature but no snow. The city is amazing, as always and each time I’m back it seems to me like being back home. Just an update about the mess I’m doing here, working in New York for the second time this year. Today a benefit event will be held by the Brooklyn based Issue project Room, rapidly becoming the point of reference for contemporary art in the New York area. Cantrina is a proud sponsor and our wines will be the only ones in tasting for the night

The Befana’s* Newsletter

posted on 5 January 2011
*[In Italy the feast of Epiphany is “personified” by la Befana, an imaginary, witch-like crone who brings gifts to good children and (sweet) “coal” to those who have misbehaved]. I always like to be a little bit different, so the Befana’s feast is one I identify with… and that is why I am only now taking the opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year, assuming you have survived the massive beanfeasts during the recent holiday period! I just have one or two TEENSY-WEENSY bits of news to tell you about: Cantrina has also gained a foothold in MonteCarlo, for now just with our most extreme wine, the ERETICO 2007… I am increasingly convinced that unique products really do make a difference in the marketplace and so one should always be prepared to TAKE A GAMBLE!

Harvest 2010

posted on 6 November 2010
What can we say about the 2010 harvest, which came at the end of a year that was especially strange and difficult? There was a late spring and a rainy summer that was cool and humid, an early autumn and lots of problems with the health of the vines. 2010 will definitely not be one of the vintages of the century and, as things stand right now, it is very hard to pick out any products of real excellence. However, after the first few days of harvesting, which caused us a great deal of apprehension because of all the care and hard work that we had to put into selecting the grapes, we can now say that we are hoping for a few pleasant surprises from the vats where fermentation is just coming to an end. In short, it took us more time to pick less grapes than usual; also, we didn’t set aside any grapes for drying to make the Sole di Dario and we selected fewer grapes for the Nepomuceno. From our initial tastings, though, we can look forward to wines that may be less fleshy and muscular, but which display great freshness, fine aromas and acidity and which should eventually offer elegance and longevity. The French (who know a thing or two about wine) refer to these as “cellar masters’ vintages”: years in which the skill and sensitivity of the winemaker really can compensate for nature’s lack of generosity. We hope we’ve done a good job!
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