2018 Slow Wine "Snail" producers . . .

Every year, the Slow Wine Guide awards the symbol of the snail to wineries that are aligned with Slow Food values and that manage their vineyards without any herbicides or pesticides while also maintaining exceptional quality at affordable prices.  Here are the awardees for 2018 in the new guide from my portfolio of wines.  Congratulations to all of them for their hard work and dedication and for making great wine.

Abruzzo

Cirelli

Praesidium

Friuli Venezia Giulia e Slovenia

Ronco Severo

Piemonte

G.D. Vajra

Trentino

Pojer & Sandri

Veneto

Montesantoccio – Nicola Ferrari

 

Fighting fire on Mt. Etna with Filippo from Ayunta . . . all was well in the end . . .

There is an abandoned railroad right behind one of his vineyards.

Spooky nighttime firefighting.

An extreme form of weed control!

Lots of old abandoned houses in these little towns on Etna.

But the vineyards are fine!

Some old olives trees didn't make it.

Over 100 years old this vine.

Grapes are fine.  White and red interplanted in this old vineyard.

Looking good!

Filippo in the vineyard.  Should I tell him trucker hats are so early 2000's?