There are often long periods of silence when driving between winery appointments. Jonathan drives and needs to keep his eyes on the narrow windy roads. Jim navigates using unfamiliar tools (I’m still a map guy, but paper maps only exist as historic documents). On a rare stretch of straight road Jonathan blurts out “respect requires restraint.” This captures Irpinia’s winemaking approach.
Read MoreWe traveled to Irpinia to get a better understanding of the nuances of the Fiano grape in the vineyard. There is no substitute for being there. Seeing the growth characteristics of the vines, literally feeling the soil, and walking the slopes can’t happen on the web. Broken language conversations become more fluid when pointing, gesturing, and touching the vines.
Read MoreWinegrowers have a passion for sharing information and ideas. Internships, exchanges, technical visits, and random emails are all part of our profession. This is an extension of our farming roots. Farmers are introverts by nature and live a fairly isolated life by design. But when the occasion arises, we enjoy sharing our experiences with others who work the same way. Over the years I’ve sometimes been received at other vineyards with an air of skepticism, but once we talk the talk, and it becomes apparent that we do the same work and have the same struggles and rewards, a bond quickly forms.
Read MoreWe’re just back from the region of Irpinia (also known as Avellino) in southern Italy. We were there to learn about a grape that I had never heard of a decade ago. Fiano produces a white wine of great character and aging potential. Its stellar performance in Linden’s Climate Change Trial Vineyard has been the inspiration for us to make a pilgrimage to its source.
Read More