Article written in collaboration with Roberto Nantiat and Gianfranco Cordero, winemakers of Tenuta Montemagno
The harvest, as we know, is one of the most awaited moments for wine producers. The final result of the harvest is destined to end up on the tables and tasting counters, to crown the sublime love story that unites man and nature. In Tenuta Montemagno the 2022 harvest has just ended. Begun at the end of August, with the harvest of the Sauvignon grapes, it ended more or less four weeks later.
This year the work was particularly demanding due to the severe drought that characterized the summer of 2022. During the summer months, as we described in the previous article, we worked to ensure that the vines best overcome the stress caused by dry land and water scarcity.
These operations led to the desired outcome and the rows entered the harvest period in the best state of health. However, during the harvest it was noted that the ripening of the grapes was uneven. For this reason we proceeded to make a careful selection of the rows and the individual bunches to be harvested, carrying out the operation at the right time.
The fact of having brought to the cellar uneven bunches in the maturation, allowed to have, in the whole harvest, a more balanced product: not too alcoholic and, at the same time, not too low in acidity. This is why Tenuta Montemagno’s technicians are extremely satisfied with this vintage. Also from the quantity point of view there is satisfaction as we obtain a harvest equal to that of last year.
At the time of writing this article, the alcoholic fermentation and winemaking operations are almost complete; shortly we will proceed with malolactic fermentation, which serves to transform malic acid into lactic acid and to reduce the presence of residual sugars present after alcoholic fermentation.
This is one of the final stages before the product from the last harvest got goes to rest in the tanks and, for the reds, in the barrels, and gives life to the final wines.
We conclude by stating that the expectations on the quality of the 2022 harvest are very high. A very atypical vintage, even for the most experienced operators who have been working in the wine sector for some time, but which will lead to obtain, at least as regards Tenuta Montemagno, high quality wines balanced between acidity and alcohol content.
https://blog.tenutamontemagno.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_2464.jpg12811920Rossana Gullihttps://blog.tenutamontemagno.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/tm-relais.pngRossana Gulli2022-10-06 14:48:292022-10-20 16:55:39Work in vineyard and cellar: the harvest 2022
The Simply Italian Great Wines tour continues in Northern Europe (Norway and United Kingdom), organized by IEM – International Exhibition Management, intended to introduce the best Italian wines to a foreign audience of professionals in the wine sector.
Tenuta Montemagno participates in this traveling event with a selection of its wines, chosen to best represent the winery and the territory which they belong to.
Mysterium – excellent red from Barbera d’Asti Superiore grapes
OSLO
On 21 September we will be together with “I Vini del Piemonte”, at the Oslo Scene in Oslo, Norway.
This event follows the success of the previous edition, during which there was a demonstration of how the Norwegian public particularly appreciates Piedmontese wines.
Piedmont is in fact in second place among the Italian regions for the export of red wines to Norway, not only in terms of volumes, but also for value, so that it has won the title of one of the first wine regions in the world for bottled red wine exports.
Tenuta Montemagno will be present for the walk around wine tasting with a tasting table and a MasterClass dedicated to Mysterium 2017.
LONDON
After Oslo, still as part of the Simply Italian Great Wines event, we will be present on October 3, in London, England.
The venue for this event, now in its fifth edition, is the ONE GREAT GEORGE STREET, a classic location of great elegance, with a typically Anglo-Saxon style. Italian wines have long been appreciated by the English market; this event aims at renewing our attention to an audience of professionals, introducing the most recent or interesting novelties of local wine production.
Also in London we will propose the selection of labels on stage in Oslo, through the traditional walk around wine tasting formula and with the MasterClass Myterium 2017.
This continues with these two stages the journey that brings the wines of our cellar around Europe and, soon to Asia. At the end of August we went to Tallinn and Helsinki; in September we will be in Oslo and London; in November we will be in Tokyo, in the Land of the Rising Sun. Important events to make our products known to someliers and importers who want to know, and propose the excellence of our country and our territory for their local audience.
https://blog.tenutamontemagno.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TM-cin-cin.jpg11521536Rossana Gullihttps://blog.tenutamontemagno.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/tm-relais.pngRossana Gulli2022-09-16 17:24:442022-10-20 16:55:05Tenuta Montemagno on tour with Simply Italian Great Wines
Article written in collaboration with Roberto Nantiat, winemaker of Tenuta Montemagno
Tasting a good wine is the final act of a sublime love story. A story that connects man and nature, the passion for the cultivation of vineyards and the acceptance of this attention by nature. But how much work is there behind a glass of wine? It is a work that lasts months, sometimes years, if we consider the time required to obtain wines matured 3, 4, 5 years and even more.
Let’s continue the journey that began three months ago, to discover what summer 2022 reserved for the vineyards of Tenuta Montemagno and which works have been carried out this season, both between the rows and in the cellar.
We specify that this article was written with the harvest in progress; an early harvest, due to the particular weather conditions (as we will see later), started with the Sauvignon grapes followed by the Barbera grapes; in this case too the harvest will be deliberately anticipated, to give life to TM Brut, Tenuta Montemagno’s Classic Method.
2022 is destined to go down in history as a particularly stingy year of water. Few rains, indeed very few, which resulted in an extremely dry and difficult climate for the vineyards. This is why, in Tenuta Montemagno, we intervened with the ripping process, that is the working of the compact soil through a series of vertical cuts aimed at eliminating the risk of dry crusts on the surface and to facilitate water drainage in case of rain. The rains arrived, although not copious, in the second half of August and the ripping carried out in the vineyards helped to absorb the rainfall.
Another intervention carried out this year among the rows of some vineyards was an early thinning; this allowed to balance the vegetative-productive relationship, that is the balance between leaf mass and amount of grapes. The drought recorded this year avoided chopping operations, usually carried out to remove weeds between the rows of grapevines.
While in the vineyard we worked to facilitate the absorption of the rain that took a long waiting time, in the cellar we continued with the bottling that began in the course of spring. Nobilis, Invictus, Austerum and Mysterium passed from tanks to bottles, to leave place to the 2022 harvest.
Each season is important for the vineyards and for the harvest of their fruit. So, utmost attention is paid to nature, listening to it and observing its behaviors, its signals. Each year, then, has unique characteristics such that specific man’s work becomes, from time to time, necessary and of vital importance to reach a harvest and a final product that lives up to expectations.
https://blog.tenutamontemagno.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Timorasso_004_1920px.jpg12821920Rossana Gullihttps://blog.tenutamontemagno.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/tm-relais.pngRossana Gulli2022-09-05 15:25:492022-10-20 16:54:29Work in vineyard and cellar: summer 2022
Article written in collaboration with Roberto Nantiat, winemaker of Tenuta Montemagno
Tasting a good wine is the final act of a sublime love story. A story that connects man and nature, the passion for the cultivation of vineyards and the acceptance of this attention by nature. But how much work is there behind a glass of wine? It is a work that lasts months, sometimes years, if we consider the time required to obtain wines matured 3, 4, 5 years and even more.
So let’s find out together the work that the winemaking technicians carry out in Tenuta Montemagno over the seasons so that the vines, in their path of development and growth, reach the optimal conditions to produce the bunches from which the good wine to be tasted will be obtained.
Let’s start this cognitive journey by talking about spring. An important and, at times, critical season, as it is subject to substantial changes in temperature (sometimes with the return of frosts), and even long periods of drought as happened this year in the months of February, March and April.
Without water, the plants slow down their growth, so in this period the technicians of Tenuta Montemagno have kept their attention high to catch any signs of suffering of the vines which, fortunately, have not appeared, a sign of a perfectly healthy cultivation.
May saw the return of rain which brought new energy for sprout growth.
While waiting for the rain to arrive, shredding and mowing (that is, cleaning the ground from grass) began between April and early May. An operation that facilitates the absorption of rainwater and eliminates water competition between the vine and the grass. These operations are performed exclusively with the use of mechanical tools and without chemicals.
Green pruning was carried out between May and June, namely the suckling and removal of side growths in excess. This well-calibrated operation allows to balance and facilitate ventilation within the leaf mass, with the advantage of reducing susceptibility to fungal diseases and increasing the capacity of sun rays absorption.
Starting from March, with the vegetative restart of the vine, the vineyard requires careful management of growth and operations to be carried out, in order to ensure the best vegetative-productive balance and therefore be able to arrive at harvest with a quality product.
The same can be said for the commitment required in managing the cellar works. As for the still white wines of Tenuta Montemagno (Musae, Nymphae and Solis Vis), following the alcoholic fermentation, the wines were kept in contact with the yeasts (refining sur lies) for about six months and bottled at the beginning of the spring.
The spicy and fresh Ruber (Grignolino) and the mellow and intense Violae (red Monferrato) were subsequently bottled.
In March the draft of the Barbera vinified in white was carried out, to produce the Spumante TM Brut. This operation is followed by about a month of refermentation and will remain for the next 24 and 36 months in refining on the yeasts.
The wines still present in the cellar remain in refining, some inside steel tanks (Austerum, Nobilis, Invictus) and some inside wood (Mysterium), waiting for the perfect moment to be bottled.
A lot of work to be done in spring and a lot of love we give to produce wines in the optimal conditions to reach tasting tables around the world.
https://blog.tenutamontemagno.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/TMM_vite.jpg12801920Rossana Gullihttps://blog.tenutamontemagno.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/tm-relais.pngRossana Gulli2022-06-27 12:22:162022-10-20 16:53:28Work in vineyard and cellar: spring
When we tell the story of Grignolino, we emphasize the peasant origin because here, in Monferrato, in these vineyards, it is was among the first grapes to be cultivated. Indeed, it was the quintessential Piedmontese wine, made for daily drinking.
The Grignolino is an autochthonous vine native to the hilly region delimitated by the cities of Casale Monferrato and Asti. It is not an easy variety to work with and the resulting wine has a level of tannin that seems to contrast with the color and bouquet.
Even the vinification in the production phase is complex but it pays off with an original wine, characteristic and unpredictable, able to fascinate for its properties and the taste that for certain aspects could remind the Pinot Noir.
The organoleptic profile of Ruber – Grignolino d’Asti shows the traits of the easy wine, very versatile in terms of gastronomic pairing, with a discreet palatal volume, a tannin present but not aggressive, a finish rightly dry, with a good fruity match to the notes perceived in the initial olfactory analysis.
Then tannin is the key to interpretation and discovery of Ruber, the Grignolino d’Asti in Tenuta Montemagno style.
The tasting way of Ruber, cultivated and vinified in Tenuta Montemagno, it starts from the vineyards that have an average age of over 30 years, using Guyot training system and south, south-west exposure. The soil is calcareous clayey with marl rich in silt and alkaline pH, with strong water retention.
All the work in the vineyard is carried out manually and the cultivation system is eco-sustainable, always according to the philosophy of Tenuta Montemagno that puts the grapes and its peculiarities first.
During the harvest, as soon as the bunches of Grignolino are brought into the cellar in small boxes, the destemming and pressing phases begin, followed by fermentation and short maceration for a light extraction of tannins. Fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature of 22 º C. degrees.
The careful process of vinification and fermentation, which in our cellar is carried out with technological processes of the highest level, ensures the very low sulphites contents and this incredible wine color, that enchants the visual analysis with a bright red, which inspired the name Ruber.
The enchanting color is well supported by the bouquet that gives notes of dried rose, wild strawberry and wild berries: a scent reminiscent of the undergrowth. The other surprise is to the palate: a tannin present but not aggressive, light that leads to a finish in which the olfactory notes are combined with structure and gustatory persistence.
Ruber is the fresh, contemporary and qualitative interpretation of Grignolino d’Asti. A wine of identity and pleasantness, versatility and character, with tannin that becomes caress to the palate and balance in the glass.
https://blog.tenutamontemagno.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/uva_header.jpg12801920Rossana Gullihttps://blog.tenutamontemagno.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/tm-relais.pngRossana Gulli2021-08-04 19:30:322021-08-04 19:30:34Ruber: the Grignolino d’Asti and the delicacy of tannin
Monferrato is a rather large area, mainly hilly in nature, almost within the provinces of Asti and Alessandria. Its territory is divided into three distinct areas: Basso Monferrato, Monferrato Astigiano (where Tenuta Montemagno is located) and Alto Monferrato.
The whole area is full of places to visit of historical, artistic and, of course, eno-gastronomic interest. Talking about territory also means being an integral part of it, knowing it and promoting it. It is precisely for this reason that in Tenuta Montemagno Relais & Wines we decided to give life to an initiative to spread the discovery of Monferrato, creating routes to be explored easily and on a day, taking advantage of the favorable position of the Estate, for those who wish, as a place of departure and arrival.
These are itineraries in which we provide some suggestions on places to visit, but which are not to be considered exhaustive for everything you can see or do in the places indicated. We leave to the spirit of those who want to follow our suggestions stick only to what is described in the articles, or push their curiosity over the hill on the horizon. We then begin with the first itinerary that develops along a path of about 35 Km. touching the main villages of the area surrounding the estate.
For each of the places indicated, we have provided some historical indications, on the particularities to see and on the specialties to “taste”.
We hope that this initiative will be appreciated and we invite those who will do this and the next paths, to take photographs, maybe close to the places indicated in the article and to publish them on social channels with the hashtag #tenutamontemagno#DiscoverMonferrato
Have a good trip!
Itinerary:
Montemagno
Casorzo
Grazzano Badoglio
Altavilla
Viarigi
Total km:
35 Km. circa. Approx.
Timing:
1,5 h by car/motorcycle
Suggested modes of transport:
Car
Motorcycle
Bicycle
MONTEMAGNO
We start from the village from which the estate takes its name: Montemagno.
Looking at the view from the cellar court or the pool, the village is exactly to the southwest. Easily recognizable also from several km away, thanks to the crenellation of the ancient walls, the burg of Montemagno can be reached in a few minutes by car.
Historical background
In Montemagno there is an imposing castle built in the 10th century. It is one of the best preserved castles in the province of Asti, now private property. The structure can be visited on request through the portal of the municipality of Montemagno.
The medieval layout of the village, characteristic of some of the most picturesque villages of Lower Monferrato, is still visible today. The first fortification then became the imposing castle crowned by Ghibelline battlements, from which radiate, from the remains of the walls, twelve alleys to draw the “old fence” of Montemagno. Each of the twelve alleys is indicated by Alley I, Alley II…. And constitute the old town.
From here
You reach Piazza San Martino dominated by the Church of the Assumption and the majestic staircase with three terraces, in baroque style, which recalls the design of the famous staircase of Piazza di Spagna in Rome.
Picture origin & property by Pastificio Baracco (https://pastificiobaracco.it/)
Specialties
After visiting the center of Montemagno, it is a must to make a stop at the Pastificio Baracco, where they produce fresh pasta, pastry and condiments that are distributed daily throughout Piedmont. Do not miss the famous Agnolotti Monferrini (to try with white sauce), so Pastificio Baracco is known throughout northern Italy.
Pastificio Baracco
Via Casale 32, Montemagno
Phone +39 014163329
pastificiobaracco.it
Typical cuisine
The restaurant La Braja offers typical regional cuisine and Monferrina, linked to the historical traditions of the place. The capacity of the room, in the garden area, is about 60 seats.
Ristorante La Braja
Via San Giovanni Bosco 11, Montemagno
Phone: +39 0141653925
CASORZO
From Montemagno we move towards Casorzo, through the village of Grana on a road that allows you to enjoy the panoramic view of the Hills of the Marquisate and the villages with an evocative itinerary of historical, artistic, landscape and, of course, food and wine.
Historical background
The origins of Casorzo go back a long time. The settlement and the nucleus of the Casorzese population have origins that date back to the Celtic era, when some cheese makers, called by Plinius – latin author and naturalist, Casurciulli, they came together for defense reasons to the high ground that took their name: Casurcium or Casurtium.
In the centre of the village you can visit the baroque parish church of San Vincenzo Martire, built in 1730 and situated in a dominant position on the site of the now disappeared castle. The churchyard houses a majestic horse chestnut bicentenary (among the monumental trees of Piedmont), portrayed in a picture preserved inside the church.
Places of interest
Picture origin by Mezzopieno News (https://mezzopieno-news.tumblr.com/post/173475498826/il-ciliegio-nato-sopra-il-gelso-la-natura)
A must-visit is the Bialbero of Casorzo, a rare example of cherry grown on top of a mulberry tree. Both plants are alive and enjoy excellent health so much that every year they give a wonderful flowering diversified.
It’s an excellent panoramic area surrounded by the hills of Monferrato, with tables and benches, perfect for a picnic, a break in the shade of the particular tree, or why not, for a different aperitif than usual with a pleasant glass of TM Brut 24 sparkling rosé.
Casorzo is also known for giving its name to the DOC appellation of a Malvasia: the Malvasia di Casorzo.
A native grape variety grown in a very limited area of the territory that encompasses five municipalities in total. Tenuta Montemagno is included in this territory and, in fact, we produce three sweet wines from this grape variety (Dulcem, Nectar and TM Roses), and the grappa Argentum XLV.
If you want to breathe the aromatic and delicate hints of this precious wine, we recommend four steps in the picturesque vineyards surrounding Casorzo.
GRAZZANO BADOGLIO
Historical background
Taking the panoramic road of the Marchesato Hills in Casorzo and proceeding northwards, you reach the village of Grazzano Badoglio. Here, in 961, the ancient Aleramica Abbey was founded by the first Marquis of Monferrato, Aleramo. The building, now the seat of a parish in the village is of particular architectural importance. Of the first building are still visible the Romanesque bell tower, the porch of the old parish house with balcony, the cloister, now renovated and restored to its ancient splendor and finally the octagonal apse.
Another site of historical interest is the tomb of Aleramo I.
Legend says that Ottone I, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, granted Aleramo as much territory as he had achieved to ride it in three days and three nights: this territory corresponds to Monferrato and the name derives from the words “mun” – brick and “frà” to shoe, that is the bricks used to shoe the horses that Aleramo rode.
Places of interest
Grazzano Badoglio is home to one of the giant benches of the Big Bench art project. The initiative, born in 2010 from an idea of the American designer Chris Bangle, aims to support the local communities, tourism and artisan excellence of the villages where these off-scale installations are located.There are numerous giant benches in Piedmont and Monferrato.
The giant benches in Grazzano Badoglio, has a decided red color and was inaugurated in July 2020 and is located in the district Cornaleto.
Typical cuisine
The restaurant Il Bagatto is a destination to taste typical dishes, especially the main course and the Piedmontese “fritto Misto” – a recipe of sweet and salty ingredients, meat and sauces all fried, and other dishes of the regional cuisine.
Ristorante Il Bagatto
Piazza Cotti 17, Grazzano Badoglio
Phone +39 0141925110
ALTAVILLA MONFERRATO
Historical background
Taking the road and going eastwards, in sequence, the provincial roads 30b, 42, 30 and 52, you reach Altavilla Monferrato, another village of this strip of territory. It is home to the Mazzetti d’Altavilla distillery, a company named after the Mazzetti family, founded 175 years ago and known nationally and internationally for its distillates.
The distillery can be visited (reservations are recommended) and is a recommended stop for lovers of grappa and liqueurs, but also for those who want to taste sweets and fragrant foods with the precious distillates of the company, or try the beauty creams with essences of grappa.
Mazzetti d’Altavilla
Viale Unità D’Italia 2, Altavilla Monferrato
Phone +39 0142926147
VIARIGI
Historical Background
We continue our journey towards the last stage: Viarigi. It is located between Altavilla and Montemagno. The village is “clinging” to the hill and the houses and roads adapt to this feature, with stairs, galleries, steep bends, walls. Once the tramway used to pass here and to think about it today one hardly believes. From 1900 to 1935, in fact, this part of Asti was connected by rail.
Twenty-four kilometers of interurban line connected the city of Asti to Altavilla Monferrato and then continue the journey to the most important terminus of Casale Monferrato and Alessandria. The penultimate stop of this incredible stretch was Viarigi, a small village in Asti of just 800 inhabitants.
Deda84, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The symbol of Viarigi is the Torre dei Segnali – Tower of Signals, of medieval origin, which dominates the village and the surrounding territory from above. Built around 1320, the tower is part of a network of defense and communication, based on a system of towers and points clearly visible from the surrounding hills (including Montemagno, Grana, Casorzo, Grazzano, Moncalvo and Rinco, to the north, Vignale, Camagna, Lu, San Salvatore to the south). The story says that in the past the inhabitants were advised in case of dangers or invasion with signals from the top of the tower, made using the fire and the mirrors.
The Torre dei Segnali is open every last Sunday of the month from April to October and has undergone numerous wall interventions over the centuries.
From its top you can enjoy the breathtaking view over the entire territory of Monferrato and Tenuta Montemagno that stands out from the hill in front.
After visiting the tower, returning to Tenuta Montemagno is a path simple and charming, since the route can be done between countryside paths or along the provincial road for a handful of kilometers.
Legends and tales
The patron saint of Viarigi is Saint Agatha to which is dedicated the main church of the village where we can admire on the churchyard the statue of Blessed Priest Luigi Variaria, a Salesian missionary in South America and a great music enthusiast. Around Saint Agatha is wrapped one of the two popular legends of this country. Taking the Sentiero Cerola starting from the nearby Fubine you can go in search of the place where the Saint was probably buried. According to the popular narrative, Saint Agatha had several brothers and sisters. For each of them were built small churches and chapels.
In Viarigi, however, you will also hear about the “Magnetisà” and a particular priest who in the middle of the 800 made a lot of talk of himself ending up being condemned for heresy and removed from the community along with a mysterious Red Madonna. According to the beliefs Don Antonio Grignaschi, in addition to being a charismatic and good-looking man was able to move the hearts of his faithful thanks to a magnetizing fluid contained in a ring. For more than a hundred years we have tried to silence this story, but someone still tells it.
Monferrato is a land of emotions and history, so we hope that this little tour was as pleasant as exciting for all those who wanted to discover it.
