Paradiso di Frassina, Casanova de Neri, Cupano

(Our adoptive grandparents - described below)

After Soldera, we visited Paradiso di Frassina. This winery would definitely turn out to be the most unique of our visit. The winery was purchased with the intention of doing a scientific study of how sound waves effect the growth of plants (in this case grapevines). To this end, he plays Mozart to his grapes and, in conjunction with the University of Florence, studies how the grapes respond to the vibrations in the ground that the music produces. Recently, Bose teamed up with them and donated brand new (and expensive) speakers. One funny aside is that apparently the decision to play Mozart was two-fold. First, the owner really likes Mozart. Second, Led Zeppelin and other rock music has been shown to kill tomatoes. This winery makes a Rosso and Brunello and a wine that is a blend of twelve grapes called "12 Uve." The idea behind 12 Uve is that similar to notes on a scale, the different grapes together can create a harmonious wine. It was very good! They age each of the grapes separately before blending them at the very end.
Next we headed to lunch in Montalcino at Il Giglio. The view was beautiful. We got to sit right next to the window. After lunch, it was Casanova de Neri time. Casanova de Neri won Wine Spectator "wine of the year" back in 2001. Our guide was really great. He basically thought the boy was the greatest person even because he knew the difference between Slovenia and Slovonia (Brunello is aged in oak of the latter). After we toured the production facility, we headed to the tasting. 6 half glasses in all (and 03 and 04 Brunello, 05 Rosso, 00 Cerretalto, 03 Tenuta Nuova and another that is mostly cabernet).... yikes! Glad we had a driver. Casanova de Neri produces three different Brunellos, one produced from each of the three plots of vines that they have in different locations in Montalcino. The "Tenuta Nuova" was the one that won the award. I liked the Cerretalto best, which comes from the Eastern side of the mountain.

Our last wonderful experience of the day was at Cupano, which was added to our trip at the last minute. We traveled to the home of the two producers, a French husband and Italian wife team, who produce a relatively small number of bottles each year (they only export to CA in the U.S.). They showed us around their property and let us taste grapes right off the vine. It was fun to hold them and they tasted great. Afterwards we opened a bottle of their '03 Brunello and sat around on their porch for a couple hours and talked about wine, their children, the U.S., etc. They were like our adoptive grandparents. Grandpa eventually got out a little of the 04 Brunello which he was supposed to have brought to Siena earlier in the day - he never made it because he decided to spend time breaking in his new horse instead. It was fantastic. At some point they brought out salami and bread and we snacked.


We said our goodbyes and headed back to Castello Banfi.