We have just barely gotten over all the hard work of Vinitaly Fiera (where we returned actively for the first time since 2010), when already thousands of new projects and new travels fill up my day, my suitcases consuming rapidly all my energy.
The experience of participating in the collective stand of Classico Berardenga was unique and gratifying. In an area where competition reigns supreme, and where ones neighbor is viewed with malevolent suspicion, seeing 7 different wine properties working side by side in order to present and promote the marvelous territory that is Castelnuovo Berardenga, was a real eye-opener. Excellent was the tasting with the group of English and German buyers; excellent the presentation of the micro- vinification project by Leonardo Bellaccini from San Felice Winery, followed up with the tasting under the guidance of Davide Bonucci.
The message I brought home with me, after our 4 days together: my wine neighbor is not my competitor, but rather my ally!
This after 6 days of being up and out at dawn, eating too much food, drinking even more wine, but knowing these routines were useful ramps for launching endless conversations and for taking long walks to work out the stress and strain, under the blessing of warm spring Verona skies.
Last, but truly liberating, an emotional and celebrative toast to all the above!
And when I returned, with my weary bones and a sore throat on Thursday to Petroio… I quickly understood that nothing here had been waiting patiently for me, except my dog Maribò.
And so straight on with vines literally growing right before my eyes, (already 15cm long) we immediately accelerated work on the fencing around the vineyards, to keep the roe dear from munching on the new tender growth, yelled at the person responsible for returning our clean, perfectly overhauled equipment for spraying the vines, because it soon will be time for the first treatments and supervising the delivery of all the materials arriving to support and finish my new vineyard.
However, as per tradition each year after Vinitaly the “Bacon Wagon” landed at Petroio in the form of Todd Bacon, our wonderful, faithful Italian wine expert representative for our importers in Oregon and Washington, who with his collaborators, post Vinitaly goes to visit other client wineries in the area. They use Petroio as a base camp and refuge at the end of their long days, and our quiet and direct chats with some glasses of Petroio wines in front of the fire, have served over the years to strengthen this collaboration and friendship. The group this year consists of people who are all from lake Oswego in Oregon which makes me laugh knowing that I will see them all again in less than 10 days…because yes, the trip is sealed, bags packed, ticket printed, and a full schedule waiting for me there.
So on Monday I am on my way back to Seattle. And also Portland. A series of seeds planted on my last visit have come to fruition and hence below you find all the places and events where in the next 2 weeks I will be promoting our wines and Petroio.
Monday April 25: Calabria Ristorante Italiano (Seattle)
http://calabriamillcreek.com/events/
Tuesday April 26: Ten Mercer Dinner&Drinks (Seattle)
http://www.tenmercer.com
Wednesday April 27: The Ruins (Seattle)
http://theruins.net
Saturday April 30: Mc Carthy and Schiering (Seattle)
http://mccarthyandschiering.com/free-tastings/fattoria-di-petroio-chianti-classico/
Wednesday May 4th: Tasting at Vino (Portland)
http://www.vinobuys.com
Friday May 6: Ciao Vito (Portland) Guest Chef at Glass Pour
http://ciaovito.net
Saturday May 6: Liner and Elsen Wine Merchants (Portland)
http://www.linerandelsen.com/index.html
The experience of participating in the collective stand of Classico Berardenga was unique and gratifying. In an area where competition reigns supreme, and where ones neighbor is viewed with malevolent suspicion, seeing 7 different wine properties working side by side in order to present and promote the marvelous territory that is Castelnuovo Berardenga, was a real eye-opener. Excellent was the tasting with the group of English and German buyers; excellent the presentation of the micro- vinification project by Leonardo Bellaccini from San Felice Winery, followed up with the tasting under the guidance of Davide Bonucci.
The message I brought home with me, after our 4 days together: my wine neighbor is not my competitor, but rather my ally!
This after 6 days of being up and out at dawn, eating too much food, drinking even more wine, but knowing these routines were useful ramps for launching endless conversations and for taking long walks to work out the stress and strain, under the blessing of warm spring Verona skies.
Last, but truly liberating, an emotional and celebrative toast to all the above!
And when I returned, with my weary bones and a sore throat on Thursday to Petroio… I quickly understood that nothing here had been waiting patiently for me, except my dog Maribò.
And so straight on with vines literally growing right before my eyes, (already 15cm long) we immediately accelerated work on the fencing around the vineyards, to keep the roe dear from munching on the new tender growth, yelled at the person responsible for returning our clean, perfectly overhauled equipment for spraying the vines, because it soon will be time for the first treatments and supervising the delivery of all the materials arriving to support and finish my new vineyard.
However, as per tradition each year after Vinitaly the “Bacon Wagon” landed at Petroio in the form of Todd Bacon, our wonderful, faithful Italian wine expert representative for our importers in Oregon and Washington, who with his collaborators, post Vinitaly goes to visit other client wineries in the area. They use Petroio as a base camp and refuge at the end of their long days, and our quiet and direct chats with some glasses of Petroio wines in front of the fire, have served over the years to strengthen this collaboration and friendship. The group this year consists of people who are all from lake Oswego in Oregon which makes me laugh knowing that I will see them all again in less than 10 days…because yes, the trip is sealed, bags packed, ticket printed, and a full schedule waiting for me there.
So on Monday I am on my way back to Seattle. And also Portland. A series of seeds planted on my last visit have come to fruition and hence below you find all the places and events where in the next 2 weeks I will be promoting our wines and Petroio.
Monday April 25: Calabria Ristorante Italiano (Seattle)
http://calabriamillcreek.com/events/
Tuesday April 26: Ten Mercer Dinner&Drinks (Seattle)
http://www.tenmercer.com
Wednesday April 27: The Ruins (Seattle)
http://theruins.net
Saturday April 30: Mc Carthy and Schiering (Seattle)
http://mccarthyandschiering.com/free-tastings/fattoria-di-petroio-chianti-classico/
Wednesday May 4th: Tasting at Vino (Portland)
http://www.vinobuys.com
Friday May 6: Ciao Vito (Portland) Guest Chef at Glass Pour
http://ciaovito.net
Saturday May 6: Liner and Elsen Wine Merchants (Portland)
http://www.linerandelsen.com/index.html
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