What are the chances of having two wet winters in a row? Very good, it seems! Grapevines like winter moisture, which helps to dilute any salts in the soil. Right now the vines are anywhere from 6-18 inches in length and we are still in the frost season, which could last another two weeks. So far, we have only had one night when we had to protect most of our vineyards. It is still too early to tell you much about the crop, although the bunches look a little bit small to me. With all of this moisture, we have to be concerned about mildew in the young shoots.

I am in the middle of preparation for the trip to Tuscany. Looking forward to enjoying my fellow travelers!

2022 Malvasia Bianca: There are many times when I think of Malvasia as a Muscat with character. Really, it is different. Both have this tremendous fruit character and these great flavors that can be presented on the dry side or on the sweeter side. With all the flavor that this variety contains, this vintage does not taste very sweet at 1% residual sugar. In today’s world, there are some red wines that have this amount of sugar or more. I really like it. I find it strong in flavor. Serve it well chilled for a pleasant and refreshing experience.

2020 Nebbiolo Barbera: Nebbiolo Barbera is one of our most popular wines in the Tasting Room. It is a blend of two extremes with the Nebbiolo being huge in tannins and the Barbera being soft and full of flavor. Maybe that’s why it works. It speaks Italian.

2020 Toccata Riserva: This is one of the best wines I’ve tasted in a while. On my trip, I expect to taste the Italian version. We will be at the famous Antinori Winery, where the Super Tuscan originated. This is a blend of our best Cabernet with Sangiovese. It has always scored in the 90’s. This one is worth making an addition to your club release and if you are a wine collector, this one needs to be added to your collection.

We hope you will join us at the winery in August for our annual Harvest Blessing Party. I will give you a complete report on wine consumption in Italy!