Come on a Small Vineyards Tour and MEET THE PEOPLE, GET EDUCATED, and HAVE FUN! MEET THE PEOPLE One Day Tours - Begining and ending in Siena Today we visit 3 of Small Vineyards estates. From Montecucco, to Val d’Orcia to Montalcino. Taste along the way and learn of the land and the ways of the Tuscans in this beautiful countryside. Our first stop, Fattoria Capannacce, where we are lucky enough to meet Adventurer, World Traveler, and Winemaker, Alberto Porta. Alberto loves making wine, and loves life, and has been dubbed, "the happiest man on the planet." Cultivating and bottling Rosso della Maremma as well as Poggio Crocino, from a wheelchair, this mans attitude is a lesson for all of us. After contracting Polio while traveling in Indonesia over 30 years ago, hasn't stopped this renegade winemaker. An intriguing and fabulous experience. Then, Perazzeta, where Alessandro Bocci makes both olive oil and wine. A passionate man, he named two of his wines Rita and Sara, after daughter and wife and, of course, father "Irio" is the last great wine from Perazzeta. Every year they throw away twice as many grapes as they press, for the pursuit of the most perfect wine, and it is delicious. After a tasting, we walk next door to taste a plate of Flavio's pasta while gazing at the beautiful valleys. The countryside here is glorious, and we enjoy more of it on our way back to Siena via Maestro Sanguineti and his vineyards where he is rightly famous for his Brunello di Montalcino. Many of you know Antonio, Opera Lover, Race Car Driver and Winemaker, and are anxious to experience his estate where he grows his grapes, because his wines, and the man himself are both fabulous. After this incredible day, our tour ends back in Siena at your Hotel. Everything in this itinerary is included. GET EDUCATED Brunello di Montalcino Montalcino Brunello di Montalcino is a red Italian wine produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montalcino located about 70 miles southwest of Florence. Brunello is a clone of Sangiovese, a grape used in Chianti. Brunello is one of the best-known (and expensive) wines of Italy. Well-made Brunellos are capable of aging for long periods of time, given their high tannin content. Climate Montalcino has one of the warmest climates in Tuscany and the grapes in the area ripen up to a week earlier than in nearby Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Chianti Classico. There are distinct micro-climates among the northern and southern slopes of Montalcino. The northern slopes receive fewer hours of sunlight and are generally cooler than the southern slopes. Vineyards planted on the northern slopes tend to produce wines that are racier and more aromatic, while the southern slopes tend to produce wines with more power and complexity. The top producers in the area have vineyards on both slopes, and make use of a blend of both styles.[1] History Although the modern rules for making Brunello were first laid down by the Biondi Santi family in the late 1880s, the current industry has its roots in the 1960s when there were only a handful of producers. Even as recently as 1975, the total number of producers was approximately 25 vintners producing approximately 70,000 cases of Brunello total. According to the Consorzio di Vini di Brunello di Montalcino, in 1995 120 producers made 300,000 cases. Today there are well over 200 producers in the Consorzio. The production has risen to over 6,000,000 bottles, or 500,000 cases. Regulations Brunello di Montalcino must be made 100% from the Brunello clone of Sangiovese. Most producers will separate their production between a normale and riserva bottling. The normale bottles are released on the market 50 months after harvest and the riserva are released a year afterward. The current aging requirements were established in 1998 and dictate that Brunellos are to be aged in wood for 2 years and at least 4 months in a bottle before release.[1] Winemakers who intentionally stray from these rules and regulations can possibly receive a conviction of commercial fraud accompanied by an imprisonment sentence of up to six years.[2] Traditionally, the wines are aged 3 years or so "in botte," large oak casks that impart little oak flavor but allow for the controlled softening of the wine. Modernists use small barrique which impart a more pronounced oak flavor. There is a middle ground where the wine is aged in small barrique for a short time and then spends a longer sojourn in the traditional botte. While there are wineries that follow traditional processes and still make dark and rich wines, the reason for this is the conditions of the soils and the micro-climates of the vineyards. This contrasts to winemaking processes that reduce the time in botte or eliminate it entirely, and follow fermentation methods designed to extract more color and tannin from the grapes. Wines A glass of Brunello.Brunello is often compared with the Pinot noir wines of Burgundy with its smooth tannins and ripe, fruit driven character.[1] The wines are available to be consumed soon after release but generally hit their prime six to eight years after harvest. The wines have good aging ability with some producers regularly making wines that still improve within the bottle for more than 20 years. "After tasting 200 of them, Filippo Bartolotta finds more question than answers" to the issue of ageing potential of Brunello wine. [3][4] The high acidity of the wine allows it to pair well with food, especially grilled meat and game. A large portion of Brunello sold in the United States is purchased in restaurants.[5] Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova 2001 Brunello di Montalcino was named Wine Spectator's 2006 "Wine of the Year". [6] Other DOCs Rosso di Montalcino, is the other main DOC from Montalcino. This wine has few restrictions on aging other than it may not be released prior to September 1 of the year following the vintage. It is required to be 100% Brunello grape grown in a strictly delimited zone within the area of Montalcino. It can range from a soft, easy-to-drink-when-young style to a wine capable of long aging when made by a fine wine estate in a great vintage. HAVE FUN! Doumina
Doumina Whyman 2008-05-04