We are well into the grapevine pruning season and have been without rain for this winter. We have a potential forecast for rain in over the early part of February, and it’s really important that this takes place.

We returned from the Wickenburg, Arizona adventure at the end of January. We had a great time and the people attending were just exceptional. They made the trip more than worthwhile. I had a chance to visit with a wine group in Phoenix who are interested in possibly marketing Toccata wines. They have tasted our wines and found them to be unusually good when comparing them with wines they get from Italy.

2022 Sole Bianco: A flavorful blend at an exceptional price, designed to make you feel good, even for you volume drinkers! This one makes a great party wine.

2021 Dolcetto: In the past, I have called this wine the Italian version of a poor man’s Pinot. Dolcetto is the everyday drinking wine of Piemonte. We were able to get the grapes exceptionally ripe on this wine. Because it grows in very large bunches, ripeness can be difficult. With an alcohol of 14%, this one gives you a little more flavor than grapes with less ripeness.

2020 Barbera: Bold and full in flavor, this is a mature wine. The big tannins have matured and smoothed out and will complement any of the big time Italian dishes like porchetta, lasagna, pizza, and sausage pasta.

Upon returning from my trip to Tuscany, I found comfort in tasting our version of Italian wines. With us, it’s personal. All the grapes are handpicked and put under the skill and care of our winemaker Megan McGrath Gates, who has worked 18 years with us. We are as good or better than anything you’d taste coming out of Italy. Home grown so fill your cellar...or your jacuzzi, preferably with Sole Bianco because if you fill it with Barbera, you might have a problem.