December

The Martin 2009 is now in the barrells at Resta. The 2008 will stay in the stainless tank until spring, then it will be bottled.

I just started to work on my website, finally...It will take a month or so. It is actually fun to look for photos. Clara is helping me, she is really good at that. She is turning 14 just today!

Claudio and I decided to produce grappa as well, since we have the skins, and we used to "sell" them (not a really big deal!). We are very happy about this decision, probably the production will be of about 50 bottles. Now we have to choose the bottle.

Had a great cooking class with the Martin family: Mr. Martin said that I couldn't pick a better name for my wine!

I am posting some pictures of the 2009.

This is a very interesting blog.

http://www.florencewinemerchants.com/events-tastings/fattoria-resta-martin-del-nero-orcia-2006.html

Fall in Resta

On November 11st we celebrated San Martino.
Of course we wanted to celebrate the person that built our house, and that gives name to our wine.
We found out that Saint Martin is the patron of the wine makers, isnt't this an incredible coincidence?
We had a Mass in the churh, Joanne played the flute, and after we had a dinner, with duck served, as for tradition.

We are having a very mild fall, with warm temperatures, and sunny days. I hope that we are not getting spoilt, and have to pay for it later...Life now is quieter, we are enjoying the new olive oil and the seasonal products as pumpkin. Unfortunally not many mushrooms were found this year.

I am working on projects for next year, new places to visit, and found many interesting places. One of my favourites is http://www.lapievedipoggioallemura.it/. Ask of Alessandro.

Some very sweet clients who came in May are shipping to Resta a wooden carved baby Jesus for the coming festivity, to place in the church, isn't it a great idea? So thoughtful.

240 bottles of Martino made their way to the US, handled by Winebow Inc.
I will write a post of the restaurants that ordered it.

Please look at this darling article posted by friends who came at Resta past May!

http://andymorales.com/snideremarks/fattoria-resta/

All my best,
and have a great Thanksgiving day, we are going to Florence to celebrate with my family.

Sept. 29: Harvest

We made it, I will post more pictures soon.

The grape was great and healthy. Now is fermenting.

What a relief!

The grape is still on...last week!

We decided to wait another week to pick the grapes, because the level of maturation might increase, being the forecast positive for the coming week. I can't wait, but I know that everything needs its time.

We will probably start Monday or Tuesday, because there will be changes of weather starting from next Wednesday.

As you can see - I took the picture yesterday morning - the grape looks great and healthy.

Right now I am enjoying my 2007, who is giving many satisfaction.
Exactly today, it is on the table of Altesino at the Vitner's Vineyard in New York.
Guido is taking good care of it. I am sorry I could not go myself, but my presence is needed here really.

Winebow Inc. started to promote the Martino this month and we'll see what happens. They will order from me the amount of wine that they have been asked for. This is a new thing, and I don't mind at all. I understand that it is not a top moment for selling, that I have a large competition, but it is good to start somewhere, step by step. I was lucky to find an importer, and which one!

A couple of days ago I had a call from a friend journalist, the Martino had a special mention on the wine guide "Vini Buoni d'Italia". And this is a really good news for me.

Now let's concentrate on the harvest. Better keep the feet on the ground!

August in Resta - waiting for the Harvest

This is how the grapes look. As you can see, in a wonderful shape.

Lots of grape and leaves.

We don't like to add anything, or say anything that can give an idea on how the harvest will be, because...it belongs to the future!
The only thing I can tell you, is that the grape now is great, healthy, and with a level of maturation very satisfying. (Cross your fingers as well, please!).

My trip in the States was fantastic, and I must thank everyone who took part of this experience.

Seeing my Martino in the US, and tasting it with friends was a real treat for me.

I can't be enough thankful, never. Mary Louise, Bruce, John, Mary Grace, Danny, Alicia, Patricia, Laura, Barbara, Wendy, Bonnie, Eric....yes, it is one of those neverending lists.

I do have a big news: starting from September, the Martino will be exported to the US, but only on request. Winebow will be the company taking care of it. I will send you more details soon. Or you can ask me. They will sell to retailers, not to private customers.

Of course this makes me very happy, because for the first time I will be - eventually - present in restaurants and wine shops. Not me, I mean the Martino!

The summer is really hot now, but we love it. When I see on the news the packed beaches in Italy during these days, I appreciate being here, in this beautiful corner. The only problem that can ruin the party are the storms.

From now on we roll to the Harvest, as I mentioned once, this is like the last month when we are pregnant. We can't wait to deliver!

All for now, many of you asked for more recipes, I will post one tomorrow.

And, before I forget, I will be in a book - few lines but very important for me - by Susan Van Allen, 100 places a woman should to in Italy. It will be published in October, but already available to orders on Amazon. It has been a fashinating project, and Susan is a real nice person that knows what to do. I hope you will enjoy it. I can't wait to see it.

A presto my dears! Lots of love and glasses full of delicious wine to all!
Anna Lisa

July in Resta

Dear all,

I can't believe that I didn't write in these pages for such a long time, it is amazing how fast time goes.
We are entering in the heart of the summer, and we bless this sun that does well to the grapes. As you know, we need a high alcohol containt - and Martino usually never lacks of it.
Next week I will travel to the US, and am starting to be very excited about it. Unfortunally I had to make a selection, having only 2 weeks of time, and am going to Washington DC, Hamptons and New York, and Chicago.
I already shipped few cases of Martino, because some really good friends are organizing a dinner for me, in DC and Chicago. Am going with Clara and Marco: they have never been to the States, so it will be very exciting for them, I am sure.
When I come back, I will "hatch" my vineyard until the end of September.

Before I leave, I have a cooking class here on Friday, and a group to tour around next Tuesday.

If you are planning a wedding in Tuscany, please visit the website:
http://www.tuscaniaevents.com/

I will add some pictures later, the vineyard looks very healthy.
We have to monitorize it a lot, because everyday we had rain, and that situation can help molds to grow.

I also want to add a nice recipe, I make this sauce for when I have fried meat, that I previously fried, it is good all cold.
I peal a couple of mature tomatoes, take the water out and the seeds, reduce to small bits, add a handful of capers, 3,4 anchovies, 8-10 leaves of basil, olive oil, and a bit of anchovies paste, if you have it. Otherwise a little bit of salt. I cut everything with a knive, and make a very fine sauce. It is good if you leave it in the fridge for a couple of hours.
Serve it in a nice bowl, to place above the meat.
Buon appetito!

• I want to let you know that Martino is sharing the expertise of oenologist Paolo Caciorgna with...Sting! (yes, him)
• This year will ship my wine and olive oil with Logistics. Lower than last year: 3 bottles: 79 Euros (wine and shipping included) - 6 bottles: 150 E. - 12 bottles: 275 E.
• My friend Jennifer from Castello di Casole wrote this about our day together. The whole blog is very well done, for those of you who decid to come in Toscana. http://jenniferslifeintuscany.blogspot.com/

Wine Spectator

I have a great news for you.
On Wine Spectator online edition - probably soon on magazine in US:

Brunello Altesino 2004 : 92/100
Brunello Altesino Montosoli 2004 : 95/100
This is really super!
I am very happy, expecially after knowing all the work done.

And about Martin del Nero 2006:
Fresh and fruity, with raspberry and cherry character. Medium - bodied, with fine tannins and a clear finish. Sangiovese. Drink now. 400 cases made. JS
87/100

Spring time?

Maybe it is hazardous to call it spring, but, since we are almost in the middle of March, I think that we deserve some nice climate, sun, and moderate heat, am I wrong? It seems like winter was neverending.

Work is slow, but I am not worried, because it is always slow in this time of the year.
I have some good contacts, and think positive. Some clients of mine are coming back in May for a week, running away from the US they say, because there is too much pressure from economical depression. Maybe this will be a tendency.
Next Saturday I have a couple to tour around, we will come here, then to Monte Oliveto Maggiore, have lunch in Chiusure and visit Altesino in the afternoon.

Martino will be bottled next week, and 60 bottles were already ordered by Adler Spa hotel.
This was a big news! Hope they don't change their mind!

I want to share this article from a national newspaper by Tommaso Farina with you, appeared yesterday (I approve it all):

Let's toast! The consuption of wine in Italy increased of 7%. Not just this: with 45 milions of hectoliters we produced in 2008 more than France, our historical rival. And the quality wine part (60% of all of it) grew. Now that people don't have much money, they want to drink well.
"We don't give up the quality of life. Maybe we don't buy a new jacket, but wine on the table is never missing. The table is a moment of sharing. We always tend to quality, and with the crisis even more. In the last years people started to enjoy to drink well, and don't want to give that habit up. Of course there is a slow in the sales, but more people now go to buy directly at the vineyard, to save money, and there, between a low-wine and one medium-high, they prefere the best one. Without doubts, the best wines are the ones that managed to face the crisis walking tall. When there is a crisis, it is normal to find the way to spend in the best way our money".

This is how Resta looked yesterday. There was such a beautiful light.

Right now I am working at putting something to say at a conference to be held here in Buonconvento next week, where I have been invited to speak about "wine, museum and territory".

All is very quiet, am enjoying very much this season, and our new wood heater, we really needed an extra help for this cold house. We found out also that we have to repair the container of the gas, which is under the ground in the courtyard. How fun...

Will come back with more interesting news than these, this time I let the pictures speak!

January

I am reading a beautiful little book, by Karel Capek, "the year of the gardener". About January, it says that "not even January is a period of inactivity", no, because the winemaker is cultivating time.

It is true. We just pruned a couple of days ago, and this is the real start of the new season.

A part of me is looking at the new bald vineyard, all to be, and another one is tasting the Martino 2007, almost ready to be bottled, with a little bit of anxiety: did he receive enough wood? Or is it too much? In a way is like when you are pregnant, at the end: an instinct that wants to keep the baby inside, not to come out...you can call it fear! Then I have the 2008, still very young, in the stainless steel tank. I tasted it two days ago and it is very fruity. Let's hope that doesn't lose this caracter.

But these are just moments, and time goes fast. It is still full winter, but there is already something springy in the air, maybe the light.

Luckily there is Paolo. I would like to add something that I found on internet about Martino's enologist, Paolo Caciorgna, and share it with you:

"The Thrills of a flavour - and a plan"

I believe in Italy's vineyards. These words sum up my philosophy and my approach to wine. The vineyard expresses the fragrance and flavour of the soil and of the sun; it expresses the soul of the people who live in a certain place, their wisdom, their culture, their traditions, their history".

Thank you Joanne for translating this for me.

Winter in Resta

Dear All,

happy new year to ALL of you, and thank you so much for your greetings - my card collection grows every year and cheers a lot our house. It is great to receive "envelopes". My son, when coming back from school, always went to the main table, looking for some of them and asking me "and who sent you this one, mom?". So I would tell him, "this is a lovely family from Texas that came here in July to taste our wine"... and so on with many other stories...

This 2009 started very well for me, as you know this is the quietest moment of the year, and I have time to think how wonderful last year was, how many interesting people I met, and look at the future season coming, thinking of what new or better to offer.
Have some good new ideas, one is to give cooking classes together with the chef of Poggioli, Guido Feltrin, our local restaurant in Buonconvento. This is because some of you might want to learn from a real chef something, not just from me!
Something else that kept me interested during the fall is the existence of our 3 museums in town; I organized a couple of wine tastings there, and got to know them well, and will love to show them, during one of my tours. Not just wine...
Then, as usual, there are the spring's pic-nicks, which I love to organize.

The brunello 2004 will be released soon, in a couple of weeks, and I will send you some comments. There is a big expectation, being a great year.
Of course I have tasted Altesino's already, and of course...it's great...

My Martino is resting in the "barriques", probably until next April. It is aging very well, sofar. I want him to be strong and velvety, with caracter but not hard...will he listen to me?
Some of you already asked me when it is going to be ready, so I will let you know when, right now I don't know exactly, I want him to take his time.
By the way, I just found out that San Martino is the saint protector of the wine harvesters! (am not sure this is the right word...)

Life here...we are a bit worried about the general economic situation. My way to go on is to try at least to do something interesting, creative and of quality. Then we will see. I will keep on making the wine my best way, keep all the wonderful contacts I have made during these years, and hope for the future. Not just sit and cry and complaint.

The country is very quiet now, there is not much to do in the field, or in the cellar. One of these days we will prune the vineyard, that will be the only action, and get rid of the part that created the grapes the past year, giving new life. We will start to see something growing in the spring.
We had a lot of rain, and that is very good for the soil, and thereafter for the trees.
Right now there are no worries for hale storms, or big rain, or deers and wildbores enjoying the fruit of our work before us. Right now the busiest are the glasses: it is the perfect season to taste our full bodied wines. And, to tell you the truth, we are doing a very good job there....