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newsletter

Let’s meet in Cantrina

posted on 1 April 2010
LIBERO ESERCIZIO DI STILE 2009 We keep on experimenting at Cantrina and in 2009 it was the turn of a tank of Roséobtained from the vinification of 100% Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir) grapes. At the moment, fruit and freshness are the main characteristics of this wine. The must was in contact with the skins for about 9 hours, followed by careful vinification and maturation in stainless steel. In our opinion it is a wine that has good potential for development: we’d like to see what it’s like in a year’s time… after all, we’re talking about a rosé made from a well-structured grape like Pinot Nero. By the way, the wine is already on sale. VINITALY 2010 We have decided not to take part in VINITALY this year, preferring to choose other options. We are well aware that Vinitaly is a very important showcase, but we believe that it is also true that small companies with limited production like ours need to market themselves in a different way, in an environment that is less dispersive and more intimate, and in which one can focus better on the unique and distinctive characteristics that make us special. We will therefore be very happy to welcome you here at the winery (please make an appointment, though): we are less than 45 minutes away from the Fair by car, but if necessary we can meet at Vinitaly where we have friends who are happy to let us “take advantage” of their stand. You will be able to taste some of Cantrina’s wines anyway on the Consorzio Garda Classico stand in the Lombardy Pavilion in the Pala Expo. THE NEXT RELEASES Following the very well-received release of Cantrina’s first Groppello from the 2008 vintage, in May 2010 we will come out with our Groppello 2009. It promises well, as this latest vintage too has given us a wine in line with our expectations as regards cleanliness, elegance, fruit and a style that makes for easy drinking without being in the least bit banal. We are also just about to offer Eretico 2007 (produced from semi-dried Pinot Nero grapes) which – to our great satisfaction – strikes a perfect balance between the two previous vintages, 2003 and 2005: it is a wine whose original style makes it really stand out from the crowd. AN AD LIB TASTING… It is always a pleasure welcoming guests to the winery, especially when their visit is absolutely informal and does necessarily conform to a pre-established programme. On 17th February, together with a goodly number of expert friends and customers, we tasted all the vintages of our wines that Cantrina currently has for sale, or which are just about to be put on the market. It was also an opportunity to go slightly “over the top”… we opened up a bottle of 2002 Rinè from our private stocks and the comments were nothing if not enthusiastic… Cristina e 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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