linea

newsletter

Considerazioni del produttore

The wine-grower’s post-harvest wrap-up

posted on 16 November 2017
Now that the fermentations are nearly finished, it’s time for our usual overview with respect to the 2017 harvest—or perhaps better, the 2017 vintage year. As expected, the extremely hot weather and lack of rainfall—some 60% less than normal– that marked the entire season brought the harvest forward by two full weeks, which meant that on 18 August the first pinot noir clusters for Rosanoire were already in the cellar, and the white grapes came in just one week later. We held our breath and exercised patience, though, with the later-ripening reds, and we were suitably rewarded with fine levels of ripeness. In fact, a couple of heavy rainfalls between the end of August and early September helped heat-stressed vines to recover their balance and to deliver grapes that were ripe, sound, and healthy. On the organic front, the weather throughout the season was of great help in keeping in check fungal and insect attacks, so much so that we had to carry out very few treatments, and those with very low use of sulphur and copper, about a third of what was necessary last year! Actually, the only really sour note of this 2017 season was the freeze on 19 April, which did much damage to the Groppello vineyard in Macesina and to the white-grape vineyards right below the winecellar, significantly reducing the crops there. All the wines, on the other hand, show good quality. This is particularly true for the reds from the last grapes to be brought in; we wouldn’t want to go overboard, but we are really in love with a couple of vats… So, taking everything into consideration, we would say Yes, we can say that this vintage is an excellent one, also because this is the first year that we enjoy official organic certification for nearly all our wines (Groppello-valtènesi in still in the conversion process for another year). GUIDA SLOW WINE 2018 On 14 October we were at the awards ceremony of Guida Slow Wine 2018 to receive our accolade as a producer of outstanding “Everyday Wine,” namely our Valtènesi 2016 (100% groppello). The event concluded with a tasting of all the awarded wines, held in the magnificent spaces of the Terme del Tettuccio in Montecatini Terme. MERCATO DEI VIGNAIOLI, 25-26 November In late November, as usual, we will be at the Mercato dei Vignaioli Indipendenti in the Palaexpo in Piacenza. This marketplace, sponsored by the FIVI (Italian Federation of Independent Winegrowers), growing in size and importance every year, makes it possible for wine-lovers to taste wines together with the winegrower and to bring home a bottle or two. Diego and Cristina

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!
1 Unfortunately, 11 12 13 14 15