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cantrinavendemmia2019

Harvest 2019

posted on 18 November 2019
Autumn has FINALLY arrived. The long and hot Summer 2019, which lasted till October, is now behind us. Now, the weather is inviting us to stay a bit in the house (or in the cellar) and is helping us to think straight…. That past season was, here in our area, one of the strangest and most complicated within recent memory. We found ourselves having to face conditions that were simultaneously both extreme and contradictory. The cold and rains during flowering caused a reduction in the potential crop, and two hailstorms in June and early August caused even worse damage, since they actually halved the crop. Fortunately, we were able to enjoy some fine weather between mid-August and mid-September, that provided the opportunity of gathering good quality fruit for our Sole di Dario and for prioritising production of our crispest wines Rosanoire, Chiaretto, Riné, and Groppello. We are particularly happy with those results. The results for the red wines, on the other hand, are somewhat less clear. To make a great red wine in the most natural manner possible, the grapes must be in absolutely healthy condition, especially the skins, that makes it possible to hold off on starting the harvest. Despite all our efforts, however, we finally decided that it would not be possible to produce the Nepomuceno 2019. One of our first “winemaking gurus” said that the quality, and the “staying power” of a winery depended also on the amount of a winery’s reserve that you can draw on when necessary. That is what makes it possible for us to skip some vintages and draw on the production of better years. Therefore, we will not compromise quality, and we will not make the Nepomuceno 2019, knowing that we can rely on the supply of the excellent last three vintages.
OLDER VINTAGES
It has been our tradition, amply justified by our tasting in May (https://www.cantrina.it/en/2019/06/12/cantrina-una-degustazione-lunga-ventanni-2/), to gather a number of bottles and/or magnums of our oldest vintages. Those of you who might be interested in them can contact us about availability and prices by writing us at info@cantrina.it.
WINEGROWERS MARKETPLACE – FIVI
The main news this year is that the Mercato dei Vignaioli will last three days, extending into Monday, making it possible for industry professionals to attend the event. So, join us over 23-24-25 November at our usual spot: Padiglione del Piacenza Expo, aisle B, number 41. We’ll be waiting for you!
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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