Ah yes, the world of wine? I’m the perfect person to talk about it really because ultimately I’d rather have a good bowl of pasta! In that sense I’m neither overawed or overly interested in the ever growing rarefied world of wine, with that same world being responsible for some pretty silly attitudes towards an agricultural product and the ever increasing cost of finding and enjoying a simple, honest bottle of the stuff. I tend to agree with Robert Mondavi, who needs no introduction here, when he once said, “I always knew that food and wine were vital, with my mother being Italian and a good cook.”
I find myself living amongst the vines of the great producers of the Vino di Nobile di Montepulciano, whilst some 30 minutes down the road is Montalcino, known around the world for its Brunello – often ridiculously priced in my opinion! So why do I like the wines from the Cantine Dei, just outside Montepulciano? Well, wine is about people; those that make it and within whose company you drink it with. I like a good honest red that will not break the bank, so value for money is important to me, and it must go well with food – because I prefer food to wine! The wines from the Dei cellar are all of the above, married to a genuine passion and love for the traditions of wine making and a knowledge of the earth, the land and the history of the land her vines sprout from and I would happily say that Caterina Dei is a fine wine maker.
I sometimes think that Caterina would rather be playing her piano and composing a new piece of music, than dealing with all the wine shows she attends, as she doggedly presents her newest vintages to an ever overcrowded and politicized wine world. The rewards come with the appreciation expressed by her many loyal, return clients and I suspect the personality that defines the wine maker adds to the appreciation of the Dei vintages.
She is continuing the family tradition of making good, honest wines and in the process has moved the making of her wines into the modern world of wine production, whilst balancing tradition, volume and quality with the other creative and artistic passions in her life – not an easy thing to do, but somehow she has pulled it off. Best wine tours willamette valley