The Giarola Estate
Giarola is located in Palazzolo di Sona, in the province of Verona, near the Garda Lake, in those regions which are geographically ideally suited for the production of Bardolino and Custoza wine.
These morainic terrains have a particular historic importance and they originate in the Quaternary glacial period when ice retired itself, leaving behind finely triturated rocks and rubble, transforming them in fine clay, ideal for vintage wines.
The mild and temperate climate and the strategic position in the inland around Garda lake, where lace-like sunshine and gentle breezes create the right climate for a luxuriant vegetation, are the elements which brought about the d.o.c. and d.o.c.g. denominations for all production areas of the company.
Since 1923 the land of Giarola family has been cultivated with vines and in 1968 Umberto Giarola began with the vinification of grapes. In last years, we have many developments and decidedly radical changes.
They are all founded in the philosophy which inspires the company and we can sum up in the following concept: "Respect for the Environment and Love for Nature".
Firmly adhering to this principles, the company has always been able to be in the vanguard and move with the times. Important examples are the total renewal of the vineyards and the implementation of the double curtain breeding system with a density of 6.000 plants per hectare; the controlled ground-irrigation system in case of drought in order to avoid stress to the vines maintaining the quality of the fruit. The company has invested heavily in land, machinery and staff not only in order to grow in numbers, but also to refine the techniques for grape-growing and winemaking.
Main “people” of the company are Umberto, the father and his sons Michele and Valeriano. Umberto supervises the various production processes and coordinates, in particular he works in the vineyards and the winemaking process itself.
The job of Valeriano, with his father, concerned in oenological processes and the fields. As far as Valeriano concerned, he also works for the packaging sector. During the first phase particular importance is given to the repeated soil- and leaf-analysis in order to ascertain the presence of all nutritional elements necessary for the balanced development of the plant.
Very important is the cold maceration for Custoza Elite and Garganega Monte Cristo tardy vintage. Michele has an important role: the commercial development of the company. In fact he goes in the best restaurants and wine shops throughout Italy also crossing the borders of Germany, Switzerland and Canada, to attract attention of our products. This gives rise to hope and sustains an ambitious project: to raise the image of Giarola wines to the highest level worldwide, maintaining direct contact with the company, in order to guarantee personally the quality of the product. The union of tradition and innovation offers consumers an ample choice of wines, able to satisfy the palate of those in search of high quality.
The Giarola Vineyard
The estate spreads over 12 hectares (30 acres) of vineyard planted to sandy, gravelly soil ideal for grape growing.
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High gloss metallic paint with a forged iron big-block under the hood - our 2018 Hillstone Vineyard is a real show car. Deeply fruited with hi-tone huckleberry from a prime hillside site in Rutherford, the wine has a thick powerband with crushed stone and coffee bean, retaining polish and precision straight through the tail pipes.
Review:
Lots of pure cassis and blueberry- like fruits as well as licorice, graphite, and crushed rock-like minerality, emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillstone Vineyard. It's a full-bodied, opulent, powerful Cabernet Sauvignon that doesn't pull any punches on the fruit or texture scale, yet has ripe, present tannins, a light, elegant texture, and a great finish. Give bottles an hour in a decanter if drinking any time soon, or better yet, hide bottles for 2-3 years. It's going to evolve for 15+ years in cold cellars.
-Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
Hugl Gemischter Satz is made from 50% Grüner Veltliner, 40% Gelber Muskateller and 10% Riesling.
Gemischter Satz" has a long history in Austria. It is a field blend where different grape varieties are picked at the same time and vinified together:
In Vienna, the tradition of planting different and complementary grape varieties together in a vineyard – then harvesting and fermenting them together as well – has survived to the present day as Gemischter Satz. Thanks to the dynamic efforts of ambitious winegrowers, this traditional rarity has grown in stature and recognition to become the calling card of viticulture in Austria’s capital city.
Gemischter Satz is very popular in Vienna’s Heurigen (the Viennese term for wine taverns). Historically, Heurigen were simple places, where vineyard owners would open their doors during wine season to serve glasses of this years wine and juices to guests. At most, a plate of cold meats and cheese could be served along with the delicious wine.
For the traditional wines of Wiener Gemischter Satz - the planting of different grape varieties together in one vineyard - a unique style profile has been developed; a style that reflects the wine's origin-typical aromas and flavours. The regulation for the Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC requires that at least three white quality wine varieties must be planted together in one vineyard that is listed in the Viennese vineyard register as Wiener Gemischter Satz. The highest portion of one grape variety must be no more than 50%; the third highest portion must be at least 10%. Wines without vineyard indication must be dry and without any prominent wood flavour. The Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC can be marketed with an indication of vineyard site also. Single vineyard wines do not necessarily have to correspond with the “dry” taste indication, and they cannot be released for sale prior to March 1st of the year following the harvest. Minimum alcohol % of 12.5%.
Adds an enthusiastic Herbert Schilling, head of Vienna's Regional Wine Committee: “With the Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC, we've achieved a milestone in the consistent, years-long quality policy for wine growing in Vienna. The new regulations sharpen the origin profile of Wiener Gemischter Satz and, at the same time, reflect Vienna´s diversity in the glass.”