Montoliva Vineyard & Winery

Montoliva Vineyard & Winery
PO Box 487
Chicago Park, California
USA 95712-9998
Phone: 530-346-6577
http://montoliva.com

Contact: Mark Henry
Email: [email protected]

Mark Henry was one of the first to plant the prized clones of Sangiovese introduced to the U.S. by Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo in 2001, and the first to plant the southern Italian mainstay Aglianico in the North Sierra Foothills. Chicago Park, California is on the western slope of the Sierra Foothills at 2200ft elevation, about equidistance from Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. Warm summers, cool evenings and soils of decomposed granite create a very happy home for our 1820 Sangiovese and 80 Aglianico vines. This, combined with the old world tradition of close planting (4ft x 3ft), means that Montoliva Vineyard & Winery is blessed with an annual bounty of high-quality fruit.

We adhere to the idea that our vineyard will reach its full potential, not under our watch, but when our children and grand-children are tending it. We use no pesticides, very limited weed control and employ sustainable farming practices. All leftover grape skins/stems from the winery are composted back into the vineyard.

Our Pinot Grigio is sourced from Jackrabbit Vineyard, the only organically grown Northern Sierra Pinot Grigio vineyard. Being at 3,200 ft elevation, means that vines are often affected by late frost, which serves to naturally limit this vineyard’s grape output. The grapes that remain in this 15 year old vineyard develop an intensity not seen in valley floor Pinot Grigios.

A true Garagiste, the estate home and winery are one-in-the-same. In the winery, Mark takes his cue from the esteemed wines of Montalcino, Tuscany. Long, slow fermentations using special Tuscan yeasts, extended macerations and barrel aging all play to the strengths of Sangiovese and Aglianico grapes.

A combination of new and old French and Slovakian barrels allows us to blend to create wines that are muscular, deep, complex and yet still soft to the touch. Most of our wines are kept in 59 gallon barrels for 18 months before bottling. Reserve bottlings age a minimum of 2 years in barrel.

In Spring of 2007 we bottled a total of 350 cases. In 2008 we bottled a total of 750 cases.

Winemaker: Mark Henry

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