Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/705606
w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m J u l y - A u g 2 016 | V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T 3 9 cultivated a dedicated fan base for our Arneis, Barbera and 'Venom,' our premium, small lot Sangiovese, and are increasing production to meet consumer demand." MORA ESTATE: FOR THE LOVE OF AMARONE Fabiano and Alena Ramaci are the forces behind Mora Estate Wines in Sonoma County, dedicated to authentic Amarone della Valpolicella-style wines. Inspired by Ital- ian masters and engendered by a love of fine food, these gorgeous gems are true labors of love. Fabiano handcrafts his wines from rare varietals like Corvina Veronese, Rondinella, Molinara and Negrara using ancient methods like appassimento (drying grapes on a rack for 120 days, followed by a 30-day extended maceration) and ripasso (double fermentation using the lees of a previous vintage). The barrel-fermented wines are then aged 18 months in French oak and finished in cherry wood, giving them an incomparable richness, depth and density. As if that weren't enough hands-on artistry, Alena hand paints each bottle with a distinctively Venetian flair that reflects her ancestry. You'll get to meet Mora Estate on "Best Bottle," a new winemaker face-off television series, in which Ramaci will represent Sonoma County in a battle with Oregon winemakers to craft the best bottle of Pinot Noir. GRAZIANO: ITALIANO MENDOCINO Winegrower Greg Graziano has what's likely the most diverse portfolio of Italian varietals in the entire state on his three vineyard properties (Bella Vista, Nube Bianco and Vincenzo; 40 acres total). He's been planting obscure varieties throughout the 30-year history of his winery, in both Potter Valley, Ukiah Valley and Calpella in Mendocino County. In Calpella at his Vincenzo Vineyard, he's putting in more. Old-vine Moscato will be replaced with Dol- cetto, and older blocks of Carignane will become San- giovese and Primitivo, while old-vine Valdiguie will become experimental Italian reds, including Nebbiolo, Montepulciano, Nero d' Avola, Sagrantino, Negroa- maro and the Sicilian specialty on Mount Etna, Nerello Mascalese. Graziano already vinifies a number of these reds, in addition to Barbera, Sangiovese and Aglianico. He also has an experimental block of Italian white varieties in Potter Valley, where he grows Tocai Friulano, Arneis, Pinot Grigio, Moscato Bianco, Moscato Giallo, Ribolla Gialla, Vermentino, Coda d'Volpe, Falanghina, Greco d'Tufo and Fiano. He hopes to take the current 30-ton production of Vincenzo Vineyard up to 60 tons. Says Graziano of the 70-year-old vineyard, "This is a special opportunity to work with and develop a vine- yard that was planted and worked by my grandfather, my father, my uncle and my cousins." Alena and Fabiano Ramaci offer handcrafted Amarone della Valpolicella-style wines in hand painted bottles. [Photo by Brennen Powers]