Azienda Agricola Casere’s Post

New Winery in our portfolio!🍷 I am so happy to announce that we have started working with Matalj Winery from Negotin in Serbia! Here is what Nikola Matalj the owner and winemaker, has to say about the winery: "We operate three vineyards in three different locations, all belonging to the Negotinska Krajina Region. The Negotinska Krajina itself has a very specific position as the easternmost point of Serbia, separated from the rest of the country by the Homolje Mountains, which are actually the final arc of the Carpathians. To the west are the Carpathians, and to the east, Negotin is bordered by two rivers, the Danube and the Timok, after which the Vlaska Lowland begins, a flat landscape. All of this creates conditions for low cloud cover, due to the winds that constantly blow from the Carpathians towards the lowland, and therefore for slightly higher temperatures that impart a distinctive character to our wines, primarily in terms of full body and mature aromas. The land can be divided into alluvial river deposits and sedimentary soil. The Zemna and Terasa vineyards are located in the village of Mihajlovac on alluvial soil. The Bukovo and Kremen vineyards are on sedimentary soil formed by the sedimentation and deposition of marine sediments. Alluvial deposits are demanding soil that exposes the vineyard to water stress and produces robust wines with a strong tannic structure that require aging. The sedimentary soils in Bukovo and Kremen are primarily soils of different compositions that provide the wine with the necessary finesse and an elegant tone that develops over time. Additionally, the tannic structure is one of the highest quality in Serbia."

| IN VINO VERITAS | As autumn unfolds, we invite you to savor the culmination of our craftsmanship showcased in the 39th week of our 2023 Calendar! Immersed in the artistry of embossing, intricate cutting, and embellished with copper bitmap foil, our calendar features a bountiful vine set against grape paper. Harvested in France during September and October, grapes symbolize the essence of “wine country.” Viticulture’s roots trace back to the Celtic and Roman Gaul, introduced by the Phocaeans in the 7th and 6th centuries BC. With the advent of the Christian liturgy from the 4th century onwards, viticulture thrived, influencing even the French Republican calendar’s initial month, vendémiaire, named after the grape harvests [vendanges]. Presently celebrated through festivals, the ancient glory of grape harvests was revered in Rome in homage to Jupiter and Venus, often associated with Bacchus and his Greek counterpart. Dionysus, embodying rebirth and divine fervor, presides over life’s pleasures, vegetation, vines, and wine—an elixir, termed “fire water,” believed to unveil truth or grant immortality. Cheers Order our #Sustainable #Calendar >> https://bit.ly/3WqyVpW   - Design: Made Thought Techniques: #Dorure #bitmap, #gaufrage et #découpe #laser sur papier Favini Crush Amande 200g – #Bitmap #foil, #embossing and #lasercut on 200g Favini Crush Almond - Photos: Margaux Piette – © Imprimerie du Marais

Ribera del Duero is certainly historic – the Romans tended vineyards here, as evidenced by the 66-meter mosaic of Bacchus, the God of wine, that was unearthed relatively recently at Baños de Valdearados. Modern viticulture as we know it today arrived with the Benedictine monks from Cluny in the Burgundy region in the twelfth century. Our logo is a testament to the history of the region, featuring the crest of Cluny monks linked with the thyrsus of Bacchus. As our ancestors did before us, we farm the land in the most respectful way, allowing each vineyard to be our teacher, with us as the students. This ongoing process of listening to and learning from each site and every vintage enables us to discover and share what each site is capable of expressing. We are continually reminded of the simple principle that most of the vital work occurs in the vineyard. Ribera has significant plantings of old vines, with as much as 9% over 80 years old. Between 1999 and 2014, almost two-thirds of Ribera del Duero’s old vineyards were lost. Given that prices are the same for old and young vines, there aren't many wine growers working these old vines in a professional way, unfortunately. Our vineyards consist of the 1/5 of vines in the region that are above 75 years old, and about 40% of our main holdings are above 100 years old. We see ourselves as guardians of the old, gnarly vines that have so much history and so many stories to tell. It is our blessing to work with them and our destiny to protect their presence and future.

🍇🌿 Exploring the art of canopy management in viticulture! 🍇🌿 Beyond the picturesque vineyard landscapes lie the secrets of canopy management—a fine-tuned orchestration that shapes the very essence of wine. 🍷 Imagine this: grapevines, like nature's canvases, are meticulously pruned, trained, and sculpted. Why? To orchestrate an optimal environment where every leaf, every bunch of grapes basks in the perfect balance of sunlight, shade, and airflow. 🌞✂️ It's a delicate dance between art and science. 👨🎨 🔬 Vineyard managers strategically position leaves, trim excess growth, and guide the vine's canopy to optimize photosynthesis, promote even ripening, and enhance grape quality. 🌿🍇 This mastery isn’t just about aesthetics; it's the backbone of terroir—the unique flavor, aroma, and character found in wines. From fostering a microclimate that protects against diseases such as powdery mildew or Pierce’s Disease, to nurturing grapes to their finest expression—canopy management is where the magic truly begins! It’s hard work to make a vineyard appear so beautiful and picturesque but even harder to produce magical wines.  #FSVit101Assignment #Viticulture101 #CanopyManagement #GrapesOfPerfection

Great article about Brassfield Estate Winery! "The 5,000-acre winery estate is a microclimate mosaic, shaped by elevation, sun exposure, and soil composition. Certain microclimates yield exceptional wines, like the extraordinary Malbec from the Volcano Ridge vineyard, located on the dormant Round Mountain Volcano’s slopes. The elevated valley floor, with its shorter growing season, produces world-class Sauvignon Blanc. The volcano significantly influences the vineyards’ terroir, with its potassium-rich volcanic soils crucial for healthy grape growth."

Discovered this gem from Açores, Portugal at my secret New Bedford, Massachusetts wine shop over the holiday. Terras de Lava 2020 Terrior de Volcānico . Beautiful wines of Ilha do Pico. Crisp and briny, with bright citrus fruit and savory herbs. The wine is a greenish-yellow color. On the palate, it has volume, freshness and minerality. The finish is enveloping, salty and persistent. Stunning! 70% Arinto dos Açores; 30% combined Fernão Pires, Verdejo, Moscatel. Aged 4 months on the lees in stainless steel. Situated on the volcanic island of Pico, this cooperative is the largest and oldest winery in the Azores. This isn’t any run-of-the-mill cooperative either, but a high-level artisan winery using grapes from the local growers. In fact, the wines have long had an international reputation – it’s reported that in 1917, bottles of Verdelho do Pico were found in the cellar of Czar Nicolas II! The vines are grown on small volcanic black rocks (biscoitos) and are surrounded by stone walls called currais. The rocks heat up in the sun, helping the grapes ripen, while the walls protect the vineyards from the elements. The Azores, an island chain in the middle of the Atlantic, has what you might call an “extreme maritime climate.” And of course, Mount Pico is always visible in the background. This dormant volcano (last eruption 1970) is Portugal’s highest point. Ilha do Pico boasts some of the most unique vineyards seen anywhere, and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage region. Picturesque!

There are four communes in the St. Emilion Satellite appellations (AOC) which are entitled to use “St. Emilion” as a part of its appellation name: Lussac Saint-Émilion, Montagne Saint-Émilion, Puisseguin Saint-Émilion and St. Georges Saint-Émilion. Puisseguin Saint-Émilion is the most eastward of these and is located about 50km east of Bordeaux, and is similar to Saint-Émilion in its predominance of Merlot. It benefits from its south-southeast exposure to the sun, ideal for ripening Merlot, with clay limestone soils. Puisseguin St. Émilion has a slightly cooler climate than St. Emilion as it is situated further from the Dordogne and requires later harvesting dates. Merlot accounts for 80% of the vines, with Cabernet Franc as the second variety, and Puisseguin Saint-Émilion only produces red wines, with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. PSE produces very high quality, lush wines, suitable for aging. The appellations name comes from "Puy," an old Celtic term meaning “the hill of the powerful wine," and Seguin, an officer who served under Emperor Charlemagne, forming Puisseguin. *Pavillon de Vieux Chantre, Puisseguin Saint-Émilion, 2022* Appearance: Dense, deep crimson. Nose: Red and black fruit: cherry, blackberry, earth, some smoke, floral notes. Palate: Fleshy and full bodied. Rounded tannins, balanced acid. Tart red cherry, blackberry, earth. Aging: This wine should age well, given to its region. Merlot is more limited in aging capacity vs. Cabernet Sauvignon. With the abundance of tannin, I’d suggest this is drink now until 2034. If you drink now, it doesn’t hurt to decant for an hour, but I’d suggest “dropping the shoulders” and allowing the wine to open in the glass. #KosherWineTastings

The oldest grand cru in Alsace On a granitic parent rock (migmatites), the soils are sandy, rich in mineral elements, shallow at the top of the hillside (400 m altitude), deeper at the bottom (230 m). The richness and diversity of the minerals encountered (potassium, magnesium, fluorine, phosphorus) determine the finesse and multiplicity of the aromas of its wines. With its steep south-facing slopes, the Schlossberg requires cultivation on terraces. A very famous place, its quality has been recognized since the 15th century. It is the first terroir in Alsace to be classified as Grand Cru by the decree of 1975. From 1928, the winegrowers of Kaysersberg and Kientzheim had recorded all the natural production constraints of this cru in a written agreement, unanimously respected, which been since then enshrined by the decrees of recognition of the great wines. Excellent granite soil Schlossberg is an exceptional terroir for Riesling to which it gives a very pure fruity expression, remarkable race and finesse. Most of the Domaine's Riesling comes from Schlossberg, apart from the Riesling Cuvée Théo, born in Clos des Capucins. Tasting notes: Another hugely expressive Riesling, Schlossberg hails from vines planted on the poorest granite soils at the top of this great Grand Cru vineyard. Bursting with wonderful floral notes, dried flowers, chamomile buds, fine herbs and fresh lime, it hits the palate like an train- intense saline notes alongside a powerful driving minerality derived from the granite soils. Taut and powerful, yet fine boned too. #alsace #riesling #grandcru #Schlossberg #sommelierlife #learningjourney #marriottinternational

It's winter in the vineyard, which means we're deep into the pruning process. Ever wonder how pruning works? Luckily, our Vineyard Manager, Andrew Heilburn, was kind enough to take us onto the property and teach us about the spur pruning technique. At Presqu'ile, we use two types of pruning techniques depending on the location, varietal, and needs of the vine: spur or cane pruning. Our Syrah vines, which you'll see in the video above, are spur-pruned. Spur pruning is a technique that involves pruning and retaining two buds on one-year-old wood grown from the cordon (the longer and older wood you see running vertically along the trellis). Andrew makes this look simple, but it's a process that takes a lot of time and attention to detail. After all, successfully pruning the vines sets us up for success as we nurture this year's growth. Watch the video to learn how it works, what to look for, and how the entire process gives back to the terroir. Andrew also drops a little bonus information about how to start propagating your own vines. Have questions about pruning? Interested in learning about something else about vineyard or winery management? Let us know in the comments, and we'll work on making it our next lesson. #winemarketing #winery #santabarbara #california #vineyardmanagement #vineyard