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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

Harvest in Cantrina

posted on 8 October 2009
Here we are almost at the end of the harvest (we still have to pick just a tiny part of our grapes and press those that we have set aside for drying) and so, strange as it may seem, it’s time to take stock of the overall situation once again. It was a precocious harvest for the early-ripening grapes (Pinot Nero, Chardonnay and Sauvignon), due to early flowering in the spring and very favourable weather during the summer. The picking time for Merlot, Rebo and Marzemino was more in line with the norm, thanks to a fine September with cool nights and rain-free days. The health of the grapes and the first analyses of the new wines allow us to rate 2009 as a good year. Only time will tell us whether it will be an excellent vintage: yes, time, which is much more truthful than all those exaggerated proclamations we tend to be bombarded with each year as the harvest approaches…

Let’s talk about…Vinitaly 2009

posted on 20 March 2009
vendemmia 2019
Here we are getting ready for Vinitaly 2009, even if it seems to us less and less like a fair that is appropriate for small producers like ourselves: amid all the hustle and bustle of this great event it is difficult to explain to people about our “open-minded exercice de style”. This year, therefore, we are concentrating on alternative methods of getting together with our friends (let’s hear from you!). However, if you are at Vinitaly on 2nd and 3rd April you can find us in the Lombardy pavilion in the PalaExpo on stand C7. If you so desire, we will be able to give you more details about our new releases, which we will merely outline below: Groppello, an indigenous grape variety of the Valtènesi, has become a part of Cantina’s range; with the 2008 vintage we have sought to express and interpret the potential of this cultivar in line with our particular philosophy of production. Rinè 2007 will have a new label, which will also reflect a few small changes we have made in the wine itself. Incrocio Manzoni is the new grape variety that gives this wine a stronger identity.

Cantrina from the old to the new year

posted on 20 January 2009
2008 is now just a memory: it gave us cause for concern with its rains in the spring and then cause for satisfaction with a late summer and early autumn that were ideal for ripening the grapes. The harvest then took place in cool, dry weather conditions: this, together with our efforts to keep down yields, allowed us to pick healthy grapes with a good sugar/acid balance. The resulting wines combine concentration with very fresh aromas and flavours, suggesting that they will have excellent ageing potential. 2008 was also a year for reflection. We thought long and hard about the type of wines we produce, constantly asking ourselves the same questions: “Can we express our terroir even without using indigenous grapes?” and “Can we demonstrate that quality and personality are independent of autochthony?”
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