May 2023

Castello Di Tassarolo Orsola Gavi (shown below!)

Castello di Tassarolo is a small estate located in Piedmont. The vines on this estate have been making wine since 1367 - the history is rich and robust! This is crazy old if you know anything about the history of wine. Today the estate is fully certified organic and biodynamic, pursuant to the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner (the Godfather of biodynamic farming). The main principals of Rudolf Steiner's biodynamic farming are as follows: 

• Biodynamic winemaking is based on the principles of anthroposophy, which emphasizes the spiritual and mystical aspects of nature.

• Biodynamic agriculture aims to create a self-sustaining and harmonious ecosystem that promotes biodiversity and soil health.

• Biodynamic winemaking involves treating the vineyard as a living organism and using natural preparations to stimulate soil and plant health.

• Biodynamic vineyards follow a lunar calendar for planting, pruning, and harvesting, and also use celestial and astrological influences to guide their winemaking practices.

• Biodynamic winemakers avoid the use of synthetic chemicals and rely on natural remedies for pest and disease control.

• Biodynamic winemaking involves a holistic approach that considers the entire ecosystem, including the vineyard, the winery, and the people who work there.

• Biodynamic winemakers also believe that wine has a spiritual dimension and aim to produce wines that are a true expression of the terroir and the natural environment in which they are grown.

Massimiliana Spinola is currently the head matriarch in charge at Castello di Tassarolo - she’s responsible for employing the biodynamic methods above! She's a QUEEN. 

We love working with winemaker visionaries like Massimiliana - where more is not more. The magic is created by intentional winemaking, smaller outputs and a deeper connection to the land. All grapes are hand-harvested with care and only indigenous yeasts are used. Gavi is relatively light and refreshing, with notes of Meyer lemon, honeydew, orange blossom, crisp apple, and almonds. It pairs well with seafood dishes as well as pasta with fresh pesto! Serve chilled and enjoy! 

• Producer: Castello di Tassarolo
• Region: Piedmont, Italy
• Varieties:100% Cortese di Gavi
• Alcohol: 13%

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Bodegas Pinoso Zillamina Rosé (shown below!)

Bodegas Pinoso is a Spanish winemaking cooperative founded in 1932 that eventually became one of the pioneers of organic viticulture in the region. Nowadays, with more than 600 hectares under certification, they are one of the main producers of organic and vegan-certified wine on a national level. No pesticides or herbicides are used, and well-drained limestone soil is fertilized only with organic manure from a local cattle farm. The natural surrounding vegetation is left to grow spontaneously, serving as a natural reservoir of flora and fauna that encourages biodiversity!

This rosé is made from 100% Monastrell (also known as Mourvedre in France, and Mataro in Catalonia and Australia). The grape is believed to have originated in the Valencia area several centuries before Christ. The wine has outstanding characteristics, offering notes of spice (like black cracked pepper), dried herbs, strawberry, plum, and blackberries! Grapes de-stemmed then macerated for 10 hours. The result is a soft, light, beautiful wine that is the prettiest hue of strawberry pink. It’s fresh, elegant and clean! Pair with just about anything! You can’t go wrong. Cheers!

• Producer: Bodegas Pinoso
• Region: Pinoso, Spain
• Varieties: 100% Monastrell
• Alcohol: 13%

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Nevio Scala Rugo (shown below!)

Nevio Scala Winery is located in the central plain of Veneto, Italy at the foot of the Euganean Hills in the Italian province of Padova. They produce outstanding organically certified natural wines! They do not use pesticides or synthetic fertilization products and avoid excessive exploitation of natural resources, within a model of sustainable development – economically, biologically, but also socially as part of corporate responsibility. They believe their farm is a complex biological organism: their farm includes crops like wheat, barley, rapeseed, lucerne, hemp and beans. And part of the territory is dedicated to reforestation, in an area in which woods have been forced to give way to crops of industrial farming. In order to promote biodiversity in their vineyards they seed green manure between the rows; the hedges planted aside of the vineyards are dotted with hazel trees, elders, blackthorns, sorb, wild roses and mayflowers provide safety, food and nesting areas for useful fauna. What absolute heaven! The Rugo is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and some indigenous varieties like Turchetta, Recantina, Corbinona, and Pattaresca. 

• Producer: Nevio Scala Societa Agricola 
• Region: Veneto, Italy
• Varieties:Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Turchetta, Recantina, Corbinona, and Pattaresca
• Alcohol: 13%

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Il Folicello Salame Rider Sparkling Lambrusco Rosé (shown below!)

Folicello Societa Agricola is a family-run certified organic winery that has been making wine since 1980. Winemakers Marco and Antonella started winemaking for fun, crafting wines for themselves and close friends and family. They make their wines with hand-picked grapes that grow in their own vineyards, where every stage of winemaking takes place from winemaking to bottling and packaging. Their Salame Rider is a dry sparkling rosé with a fresh and fruity flavor! The vineyards of Folicello are certified organic, free from pesticides and toxic poisons. Il Folicello cares deeply about the health of the earth and soil, as well as the surrounding ecosystem. This makes all the difference in their winemaking! 

The main difference between Lambrusco Rosé and Lambrusco Rosso (Red) is the degree of skin contact during the fermentation process, which leads to differences in color, flavor, and sweetness. Lambrusco is a type of red sparkling wine that is primarily produced in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy using several different varieties of the Lambrusco grape, which is known for its high acidity and fruity flavors. This rosé is dry but don’t be afraid of Lambrusco with a bit of residual sugar - they are often balanced enough so that the sugar isn’t really perceived as “sweet”. It should feel JUST RIGHT and is always a refreshing, fun wine to share with friends and family. 

• Producer: Folicello Società Agricola
• Region: Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
• Varieties: 100% Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC
• Alcohol: 11.5%