In early spring this year I visited Podere Concori, the beautiful vineyard and winery of Gabriele da Prato. Gabriele has turned the family vineyard into a biodynamic success story. He began in 1999 and within 5 years was producing excellent wine.
The very first buds were beginning to appear when we were there in March.
After walking around the vineyard with Gabriele, where he explained the biodynamic method to us, we tried his very successful Melograno Rosso, which is a blend of Syrah, ciliegiolo, Carrara and Pinot noir.
The Italian wine bible, Gambero Rosso, described the Melograno Rosso as “A seductive wine with aromas of red fruits, medicinal herbs and green pepper, it has a lovely balsamic vein and the easy-drinking palate oozes finesse and flavour.” We found it delicious.
The white wine is a blend of Pinot blanc, chanin blanc and gewurtzraminer……also excellent.
Gabriele’s delightful son was on hand to help.
We went back last week for the first day of vendemmia, the picking and the processing of the grapes……lucky us.
Refreshments were required.
Everyone was there to help, including this very cute Dalmatian, Spinone cross.
Short breaks were needed.
The freshly picked grapes were taken to the winery where they were destemmed.
The grapes were then tipped into vats to be stomped on.
There were lots of helpers.
The grapes begin to ferment quite quickly.
And the grapes keep coming.
The vineyard certainly looked different from my March visit.
The highlight of the day was joining the family for dinner, where we ate produce from the farm as well as sampling the wines.
We had a wonderful afternoon at Podere Concori……..thank you Gabriele and family……and also Heather Jarman from Sapori e Saperi, who made it possible.
That looks like so much fun and I love that you had wine ‘refreshments’ in between picking grapes 🙂 A beautiful looking property and wow, that food!
By: sheof108names on September 28, 2012
at 10:04 am
Both days at the vineyard were great fun….and yes, the food was delicious.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 28, 2012
at 10:07 am
A real treat, Debra – and how appropriate you were there for the first bud of of this year’s vintage too 🙂
By: The Wanderlust Gene on September 28, 2012
at 10:39 am
We were very lucky to be able to see the vineyard from the beginning of the season to harvest…..very special.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 28, 2012
at 1:15 pm
So much more convivial than it was at home, when we picked – though we heard rumours about the wonderful food the pickers would get at the Italian farmer’s vineyards. 🙂
By: The Wanderlust Gene on October 1, 2012
at 6:00 am
“In vino veritas”
By: mulino dominillo on September 28, 2012
at 10:57 am
….and it tastes good too.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 28, 2012
at 1:16 pm
Good people + good wine = a joyous occasion!
By: aFrankAngle on September 28, 2012
at 11:47 am
It was a very happy day.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 28, 2012
at 1:16 pm
My FIL was a biodynamic farmer. From what I understand, it takes a lot of commitment but is worthwhile 🙂
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on September 28, 2012
at 11:49 am
My sister’s vineyard, Curly Flat in Victoria is going that way too.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 28, 2012
at 1:17 pm
Fantastic post. What a beautiful place. I’d love to have a stomp around in those grapes. Your dinner looks so delicious, and of course, I’d enjoy a glass of that wine. 🙂
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By: adinparadise on September 28, 2012
at 12:53 pm
The wine is very good and Gabriele’s wife is an excellent cook.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 28, 2012
at 1:18 pm
What a great post, Debra! I loved seeing the process from spring growth to harvest. And the wine and food – yum!
By: composerinthegarden on September 28, 2012
at 2:07 pm
I meant to post the photos from March ages ago, but I didn’t get there. I think this is better.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 28, 2012
at 3:58 pm
How fantastic have loved this day esp as we are shortly going to be picking our own grapes, well whatever the peacocks have left for us anyway!! Beautiful.. c
By: ceciliag on September 28, 2012
at 2:09 pm
I hope you get a fine crop.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 28, 2012
at 3:58 pm
It won’t be until I can design a trellis that peacocks cannot sit in. They have already eaten half the crop. The starlings have been left to starve! c
By: ceciliag on September 28, 2012
at 6:36 pm
Naughty peacocks!
By: Debra Kolkka on September 28, 2012
at 8:40 pm
No wonder they’re smiling….Beautiful, evocative post Debra. Wine is truly special that way, especially in Italy I think.
By: Janine on September 28, 2012
at 2:13 pm
My sister makes some excellent wine in Victoria. Their property is beautiful too.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 28, 2012
at 3:59 pm
My mouth is watering. What a fabulous experience, one I know I would love. Once again beautiful photos Lyn
By: aussiegirl0905 on September 29, 2012
at 2:13 am
It was certainly fun to be there for the first day of picking.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 1, 2012
at 10:52 am
Whaddayahknow!? The best wine tour post I’ve ever come across happens to be yours. I love all the details, Debra. You really are such a magnificent blogger. Even just the way he sniffs the cork, I feel like wanting to be there to see it in person. And this looks like a legit all around wine tour. The grapes getting stomped on is a maginificent sight. I want feet on my drink! Hehe 😀
I never really liked wine until I got to Italy. 😀 Sorry Spain, I don’t why you never turn me into a wine drinker.
By: rommel on September 29, 2012
at 8:52 pm
Gabriele’s wine is very good…pity there isn’t more of it to sell all over the world. Thank you, again, for your kind comments.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 1, 2012
at 10:54 am
This looks like so much fun. I love the way there is a stop for refreshments as well…no coffee just vino! Dinner would have been a highlight for me too!
By: jenny@atasteoftravel on September 30, 2012
at 4:12 am
It was especially good fun because we shared it with the family.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 1, 2012
at 10:55 am
Hi, I want to nominate you for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers award! Check out my post http://dutchgoesitalian.com/2012/09/30/awards-day-wonderful-day/ about it. Have a nice Sunday!! Letizia
By: dutchgoesitalian on September 30, 2012
at 11:49 am
What a fun visit this must have been. The little boy is darling; the wine looks lovely! Would you mind sharing a sip?
Hugs,
Kathy
By: Kathryn McCullough on September 30, 2012
at 12:43 pm
I would gladly do so if you were here.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 1, 2012
at 10:59 am
That looks absolutely wonderful! What a perfect day Debra… gorgeous.
Love that dog too, looks very like my childhood dog who was much loved… I’m a sucker for a whiskery dog.
By: cityhippyfarmgirl on September 30, 2012
at 9:11 pm
My friend has a Spinone, and this cross definitely had the Spinone face and whiskers.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 1, 2012
at 10:59 am
Lovely pictures again. Anyone with an interest in wine and its production will read this post with great interest. Presumably they sell direct to the public?
By: christopher oconnor on October 1, 2012
at 11:46 am
You can buy at the winery and he also sells in a few places. The details should be on his website.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 1, 2012
at 1:58 pm
God, don’t you just love Italy!! Beautiful story. Beautiful family. BEAUTIFUL wine.
By: the daily cure on October 6, 2012
at 2:49 pm
They are a delightful family and they make great wine.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 6, 2012
at 4:58 pm