Fattoria Resta and Martin del Nero

SNOW!

2012-02-03T09:22:00.000-08:00

Two days ago we had a lot of snow, unfortunally it is already melting, but seems like it will snow again.

I post few pictures that my daughter Clara took (she is 16).

Someone asked me if the snow affects the vineyard, and I said that snow is very good for the soil, because brings water in a slow way, when rain instead shifts away quicker. So snow gives a deeper hydratation to the ground.

Am starting to have some contacts for the coming season, I wonder how it will be, am looking forward having again people here.

In the meantime I keep going on with my yoga studies. Second year. If all goes well, at the end of June I will become an Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Teacher.

I hope I will pass, it is so difficult to study again at this age! Plus, I have to learn sanskrit...

Wish me well.

I do the same to you, all over the world!

Celebrating a marriage - October 2011

2012-01-30T02:35:00.000-08:00

These are pictures I adore. Now that I have a little bit more of time, I like to look thru the images of last year. So many things happened...like this one...a friend asked me to "marry" a couple staying in his agriturismo, with a ritual, nothing legal - they have been already married officially in the US - and when he asked me to find someone, I thought that I could do it...so, with the help of a couple of friends that do this regularly, using their formula and making it more mine, I managed very well and felt very comfortable.

It was a great chance to be so close to a couple full of love. I had to control myself not to cry when I got really emotional!

They seemed to have enjoyed very much, and now I know that I can do this as well, so who knows, maybe someone coming to Fattoria Resta will want to celebrate something...how beautiful!

2012-01-12T10:37:00.000-08:00

I am back after a year! I can't believe it.

This time in English - I forgot that the Blog was all in English...
But I am a lousy translater!

This is Nick Anderer, the chef of Maialino, the restaurant in NY. He came to visit, I gave him my apron, he went back to NY and took this picture with it and his staff. Love it.

Just a symbol of the past year, full of exchanges and wonderful memories.

Thanks to all the beautiful people that came to Fattoria Resta, and to the ones that came back. That is really the sign of success for me!

Promise to write before next year...

Un anno!

2012-01-12T10:31:00.000-08:00

E' già passato un anno dal mio ultimo post...e quante cose sono successe!
Intanto una bellissima notizia: il Martin 2009 ha ricevuto 91/100 da James Suckling.
Il che mi fa moltissimo piacere.

Poi, tornando indietro, è stata una bellissima annata, ricca di visite, direi da tanti paesi diversi.
L'inverno scorso abbiamo ristrutturato una stanza, che era stata una stalla, dove ho organizzato cene e piccoli eventi.

A fianco del vino ho continuato con l'altra mia grande passione, lo yoga.
Ad Agosto ho anche praticato insieme a Trudie, la moglie di Sting.

Ma la cosa che mi fa tanto piacere è appunto di aver conosciuto persone molto speciali, molte delle quali sono tornate, e, soprattutto, di aver venduto quasi tutto il vino!
A questo punto concentro le mie energie sul 2010, che uscirà verso Aprile-Maggio.

Ad Aprile andrò a New York e a Washington per trovare alcuni clienti, insieme a Winebow Inc.

Non aspetterò un altro anno a riscrivere!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-22T06:47:00.000-08:00

New Website!
www.fattoriaresta.it

2010-07-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

Great honor for me. Dinner with Secretary Kathleen Sibelius.

May

2010-05-21T03:04:00.000-07:00

After all the rain the vineyard is very luscious...now we are waiting for the sun...

Great time at Resta, lot of people coming to visit, am superbusy, all very nice, a lot of connections, the 2007 completely sold out, the 2008 ready to come out.

I met Alice Waters and this was very important for me, she is such an amazing person.
Inspiration for my cooking projects, and life in general.
Thank you to the Borgo Finocchieto, that gives me these wonderful opportunities.

This picture was taken as a project for a book, but will tell you more later...suprise surprise...

April

2010-04-12T01:13:00.001-07:00

I just came back from our important annual wine fair in Verona, Vinitaly. Martino went very well, am so proud. There are new openings for markets: Austria, Germany, Canada and Switzerland. Now I have to send them samples, and wait for orders. Am referring to the 2008 vintage, that will be ready in a couple of weeks. The 2007 is completely sold out. Still can't figure it out how this happened. 4.000 bottles, gone.
Winebow INC. ordered more bottles, I will post soon the restaurants in the US that keep it.
Am posting a picture of the new baby vine growing, every day a little bit.
And one of the new presence in my cellar, a slavonian oak barrell. I don't use it for aging the wine, but I wanted to recuperate it from a winery that was going to throw it away. It looks very charming!

And one with Leonardo Locascio, President of Winebow.
Am starting to have some tastings here, am getting busy with planting flowers in the courtyard's pots, and tomorrow will decide on some t-shirts with Martino's name on. Why not?
A presto!
Anna Lisa

February

2010-02-22T00:33:00.000-08:00

We had ONE day of snow, these are some picks. This was last week.

Despite the weather, the air has been changing in the last couple of days, and we are looking forward the spring.

Seems like a long winter...

January

2010-01-25T05:22:00.000-08:00

Dear all,

the year started very well here at Resta, I am now waiting to prune, probably in the next couple of days.

Have been busy with the kids, driving them everywhere, and with a yoga practice I enjoy , with a very good teacher. And am taking guitar lessons, once a week.

Am pretty sure that in a couple of months life here will be a lot more busier. And, sincerely, I can't wait! You know how much I enjoy to entertain.

Am planning some "marketing strategy" - something I need to do even if I "only" produce 4.500 bottles... - decide to which wine shows to go to, still working on the website (seems like a life-long project), and thinking of new recipes for the cooking classes.

We have a very ambitious program for the coming year with my Orcia Consortium: this year we celebrate 10 years, and we are going to organize an event each month. All locally, connected to the regional "festas", as the truffle, the honey, the artichoke, etc.

Am going to send some bottles to a tasting in Genova and one in Milan.

An important italian journalist came last week, up to now I didn't receive anything about what he has been writing, am crossing my fingers.

I just opened a page on Facebook for Martin del Nero. Of course I am very active in my account, Anna Lisa C. Tempestini, let's see what happens with this one. Will I handle to coordinate everything? It is not active yet, I am just working on it, am waiting for Clara to help me.

Someone wrote to me that had a bottle of Martino in New York, in the Italian restaurant named "Maialino". So happy about it.

You may find the wine in Tosca in Washington DC.

Please write to me if you are planning to come to Toscana, if you need help from me.

Would like to post a more sunny picture, but the sky is really grey today!

So, instead, I post a picture taken yesterday: I prepared with my friend Miria the seasoned salt for the season. All organic products, most of them coming from the courtyard.

Anna Lisa

December

2009-12-02T03:08:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-11-24T01:00:00.000-08:00

This is a very interesting blog.

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

Fall in Resta

2009-11-23T09:01:00.000-08:00

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

2009-09-29T09:32:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-09-23T00:13:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-08T01:32:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-03-19T01:10:00.001-07:00

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

2009-03-16T11:04:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-03-09T09:58:00.000-07:00

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".

2009-01-29T03:08:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-23T00:33:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-15T09:48:00.001-08:00

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....

Oct. 29, 2008: Olive harvest

2008-10-29T00:59:00.000-07:00

This morning we are picking the olives. Seems like it will be a good year for olive oil as well: there are many and they reached a good level of maturation, thanks to the mild fall.
At this point you would think that I am done here at Resta, but you are wrong, because with Claudio we decided to try to grow saffron, and it is usually picked in october, before noon - don't know why, will tell you when I find out!

We have to pick the flowers very carefully, they are delicate, and take off the inner part, sort of dark orange looking, and leave it to dry for few days: then I can place it in a glass container and it's ready to be used.

I am adding a picture here on top, they are so beatiful, am already dreaming of a risotto alla milanese...

Another important issue is that the day before yesterday there has been a votation at the Brunello's Consortium, to decide if to change the way of making the wine, if to add other grapes or not, and I am very pleased to tell you that the traditional "party" won, so Brunello can only be made with 100% sangiovese grosso. Am very pleased for Altesino, as you know this is the line of Claudio and of many other producers.

Am working right now with joy on the presentation of the italian edition of the book of my friend Beth Elon.
It will be held in Buonconvento, on November 13th. Am looking forward it, having been part of the project since the beginning.

All for now, am creating a new post, where you may write something, as a comment. Sometimes I have contacts from people that don't know me, and it could help them to figure out if they should trust me or not!

My very best to all,

Anna Lisa

Fall and others....

2008-10-22T03:56:00.000-07:00

This is how my vineyard looks like now, I just took this picture. The wine just finished the fermentation, and I am very pleased with it.
The great news is that the Martino 06 is completely sold out - I shipped the last 12 bottles yesterday.
Now we have to wait for the 07: after 14 months in french barrels seems like it is almost ready. Still, I will want to have it rest in the bottle for few months before I start to sell it.
Next week we pick the olives, then there will be the new olive oil, which is always a great feast around here: what's better than a bruschetta with bread grilled on the fire...fire which I would love to start, the problem is that it is still very hot here!

Please look at some pictures of people coming to taste here at Resta.
I just love this project, soon my book will be finished...

I don't know how to thank you enough for your...I don't even know how to call it!

I feel like I've built a small comunity of Resta and Martino lovers.

A presto my dears...

HARVEST!!!!

2008-10-02T04:11:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday the 30st of September we picked the grapes, for a total of 262 orange boxes. The grape was a lot, and very healthy. The weather was warm and sunny, so we didn't have any problem at all. I will let you know how the fermentation goes on.

I am very happy about it. Now I can relax for a while...

Have still a couple of tours coming, and another dinner to organize with Lynn here at Resta next Sunday. Otherwise the season is slowly becoming quieter.

Am organizing a yoga day here at Resta next Monday, and am looking forward.

As some of you know, I have a little flat in Florence, that will be free starting from November. If someone goes to Florence and needs a place to stay, please let me know. Now I am posting another picture, if you want to see a couple more, go to the link on the right of this one.

Next will be the olive oil.

A presto!

Great food from Tullio of Osticcio in Montalcino

2008-09-13T13:02:00.000-07:00

Examples of good food (and wine)...
in Montalcino.
My favourite places are Enoteca Franci (my dear friend Stine works there) and Osticcio (ask of Tullio). Not to mention Le Potazzine - don't have a picture yet!

I am back to work, after a very good summer. Have been travelling and working on the same time, and now am getting ready to pick the grapes. The last few days have been very rainy, let's hope that it is going to be a good year.

Have a couple of tours coming, and a dinner to organize here, at Resta, with Lynn, again.

Am really looking forward.

Write to me if you consider shipping my wine or olive oil as a Christmas present.

Busy August...food, wine, soccer...

2008-08-16T12:34:00.001-07:00

So many things are happening in this August...I am really busy! First, had a great visit at CUPANO vineyard in Montalcino. Lionel's rosso and brunello are really something...you can see him here on the right.

Another important event is a private dinner organized by myself with the BIG help of Lynn Mcneely, some of you know him because he is the chef at Borgo Finocchieto. The dinner was located in a rented villa. I think that we did a great job, and I am looking forward working with him again. He is so relaxed, and creative, and natural.

If you are interested, there are more pictures here: http://martindelnero.spaces.live.com/default.aspx

The wines I served were a Soave to start (Inama, very good), Rosso di Montalcino Piancornello 2005, Martin del Nero 2006 (I don't know if you ever heard about this wine...),Brunello di Montalcino Uccelliera 2003 and Magnum Brunello di Montalcino Altesino 2003.

Last Tuesday I went to the first soccer game of Fiorentina, against Slavia Praga for the qualifications of the Championsleage, and we won 2-0 so you can imagine my JOY!

Now we have to wait for the return game.

Bruce and I on top right.

Claudio and I had a great scare yesterday afternoon, a big rain and a short hale storm made us worried very much. Luckily my vineyard is still there...

All for now...

A presto!

2008-08-11T10:40:00.000-07:00

July 08 -- fresh made pici!

My story

2008-08-11T10:32:00.000-07:00

Born in Chicago, USA, in 1966, my family brought me to Florence when I was four years old, and that is where I grew up. My passion for wine started when I was 19, studying at the University, and working part-time in the p.r. office of the Consorzio del Vino Chianti Classico Gallo Nero.After a couple of months, I decided to leave my studies and dedicate myself completely to this, my first real job. My main occupation was to help a woman in organizing tours for journalists of the Chianti vineyards; after a while, I began to lead the tours myself, basically taking her place, but she was happy to do other things. It was a very busy office, and I enjoyed very much the feeling of working with a team. When I had a chance, I would go in the laboratory, where the inspectors tasted wines that had to be approved before giving them the pink DOCG label, and I would take this opportunity to taste as well.I will never forget the day when I realized that a wine I really liked had a very high score on a magazine. A voice inside of me said: "hey, maybe I do understand something…" I'm not really sure, though, when and how I fell in love with wine. It was very gradual. The first time I felt this way, it happened by chance. I didn't decide anything. Then, slowly I realized that I never wanted to leave the wine world; I can still feel that part of myself growing. There is always something new to learn, mostly from people. One of my favourite things to do is to observe real "wine people" and just absorb everything that I can from them. I'll never forget when I met one very famous French wine producer: I had to take him to visit a vineyard, but it had unfortunately started to rain while I was on my way to pick him up. I apologized to him, saying, "too bad it's raining." He answered, "perfect; then I can see the drainage." Touchè.It was also very lucky that I was even accepted in the wine world at that time. It was not easy twenty years ago in a totally male dominated industry, in a country like Italy! Even though I was the youngest in the office, after a year and a half, I found that I had outgrown the working atmosphere I had so loved. It felt claustrophobic: I needed to be more outside, and I wanted to learn more…I wanted to be working on a farm. At the age of 21, I left a "sure" job for a 3 month position in an estate in Montalcino at Altesino Winery, where I met my husband. The 3 months ended up becoming 2 years! Then came along our 3 children, but that is another story. At Altesino I was taking care of the wine tastings and of the many visitors. Because of my relationship with Claudio, who is still the director, I was also in constant contact with the importers and other parties interested in the Estate. It was again another important experience for me, to learn about Brunello, this Montalcino region…and to learn to love it, of course. After Altesino, and a couple of children, I went to work in another estate, Costanti, owned by a dear friend of Claudio and I. I worked there for about 6 years, it was a perfect job since it was part time but rich in responsibilities. Eventually I left Costanti, because I started to give wine tours, working for a friend who has a very good agency, and I needed to have more flexibility in my schedule.Taking people on wine tours has a very specific meaning for me: every time something must be different. It is like travelling, sharing my passion, transmitting what this land has to offer, and meeting people ensuring that there is always something interesting for me to learn as well. All of this goes above and beyond the fact that, while working in the industry, I had the opportunity to taste the majority of the wines produced in this area and to get to know the owners of the wineries themselves. In a way, visitors that come here are already a "selective bunch" (please excuse the pun!): he who enjoys wine, usually enjoys food, and for sure enjoys life! For this reason I feel very lucky, since I always take away from my clients a healthy dose of enthusiasm. Since 2004 I take care of the clients at Borgo Finocchieto (www.borgofinocchieto.com) for all of their wine tour needs and began a new adventure last year: it is now also my responsibility to select the wines for the Borgo's growing cellar. A wonderful job. My husband and I decided that our lives were not busy enough, so we went ahead and planted a vineyard here at home. For a couple of years now I produce my own wine, Martin del Nero, as well as extra virgin olive oil, and in 2007 I was asked to be consigliera for the Consortium of Doc Orcia producers. These things bring me great joy, and it seems that I have finally come full circle to where I feel I naturally belong. Bottles, glasses, now roots and leaves. Scents, shades. So many wines to taste, all of them so different. Which wood to use, for how long. Decisions. As a producer I now have a new personality to deal with every year, different characteristics, different needs, new challenges. Just the way I like it.

Anna Lisa Tempestini

2008-08-09T06:17:00.000-07:00

June 2008

Ruth Reichl and me

http://www.ruthreichl.com/

2008-08-04T22:54:00.000-07:00

Patty Manero, on the left, is my friend who designed the Martino's label.

She came to visit with her friend Kim.

2008-08-03T23:17:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I wrote last time...the summer is "running" as we say here! I want to share with you this picture, yesterday I did the lavender harvest. What a beautiful scent.

In the meantime the grape is growing very well. The maturation time is in delay of 2 weeks, so it will be a later harvest. This is because of all the rain we had in May.

Resta's picture

2008-05-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

Now, maybe too posts in one day are too much, but I couldn't resist to this: if you look carefully, the first picture from the right shows my courtyard. It was taken by John Cerritelli during his past year's stay at Resta.
The restaurant is: Leon's of New Haven, 501 Long Wharf Drive, New Haven, CT

Thank you Patricia and John,

www.prestigebarkley.com

2008-05-22T00:04:00.000-07:00

This morning there is some work to do in the vineyard. Because of all the rain, the vines grew very much, and the leaves need to be cut.

2008-05-20T03:16:00.000-07:00

Unfortunally the weather is terrible, I can't wait to see the sun. It is good for the soil, though, but not for the soul!
Lately I have been tasting many interesting wines, and I started a cooperation with Nicolò, who owns a wineshop in Montalcino.
In addition, I found a cheaper way to ship my or other wines to the US, with Global Wine Service. They charge 80 euros for 6 bottles instead of 90. Not much, but something...
I will come out soon with a selection of my favourites Brunellos.
In the meantime, I have a couple of wine tours coming, and am looking forward.
As well as for a better season...

A very interesting blog -- please go there!

2008-05-18T00:01:00.001-07:00

http://www.tuscany-travel.blogspot.com/

2008-05-15T01:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon the Martino 2006 was bottled...now I will leave it resting in the bottle for few weeks, and then it will be ready. I know, the picture is not very romantic, but it shows the super brand new bottling machine at Altesino...only the best for my wine!

Tomorrow I am sending 2 samples to The Wine Enthusiast.

2008-05-02T03:52:00.000-07:00

My daughter Clara did this for me. It shows where Martino is in the world.
USA: Illinois, Texas, Washington DC, New York, Ohio, Florida.

EUROPE: Belgium, England, Monte Carlo, Holland and Germany.
And Israel!

a new mARTino!

2008-04-30T02:20:00.000-07:00

Please welcome the Goddess of the Harvest...

Made by my friend Barbara from Hawaii.

Thank you Barbara, so much.

And you know what? When she sent it to me, a couple of weeks ago, I immediately thought: I MUST make a wine for this image.

So, soon I will have about 200 bottles of a special selection of my mARTino, this time not 100% sangiovese but blended with Cabernet and Merlot.

I will let you know when it will be ready.

Always action in Resta!

2008-04-23T12:32:00.000-07:00

This is by my friend Eric Baker. Thank you Eric - I always find terrific your job. Please visit Eric's website: www.ericbakerdesign.com

COOKING CLASSES!!

2008-04-22T00:32:00.000-07:00

My cooking classes season is ready to start again...and I am really looking forward it! Bread, pici and tagliatelle, grilled vegetables...every thing very easy and simple, fresh and locally grown.

2008-04-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

This I took ten minutes ago...a new life for the vineyard, we start again a new adventure...another vintage coming along!

2008-04-11T04:23:00.000-07:00

I want to tell you that this afternoon I am going to bottle the Martino 2006. The 2005 is sold out, I will keep 10 cases in the cellar to see how it behaves with the years...
If the 06 will be well received as the 05, I will be so happy!
Right now is exported to Belgium and Germany. I don't have enough quantity to export to the States, so maybe I will do it with the 2007 vintage, when I will have 3.500 bottles to sell.
The olive oil is losing some of its bite, and now starts to be more gentle.
I would like to show you a picture of the vineyard, the gems are growing everyday.
Unfortunally the weather is terrible.
I am going to Egypt for a week, see you soon...
Ciao for now!

2008-04-10T04:02:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!
I am trying to organize this Wine Blog...please forgive my English above all...
I will go and try to think about something interesting to write, in the meantime I send you a big hug from a very windy Resta.
I will tell you about some very good wines I have been tasting lately, and about my project to come to the States in July.
A presto!
Anna Lisa