What does a vineyard in Italy have to do with TLC? Read on to find out!!
In 1497, the two noble Venetian families of Barone and Fini united
in marriage and began producing wine in northeastern Italy. Archival
notes show they were the wine makers for the Medicis.
Today, the Bonmartini family of Greenville, Delaware-- direct
descendants of the Barone Finis-- continue to manage this venerable property
that lies at the foot of the majestic Dolomite mountains in the Trentino-Alto
Adige region of northern Italy that shoulders up against Austria.
Giovanni Bonmartini-Fini took control of the winery in 1997 after
his uncle Sebastiano passed away. Cultivating grapes in as natural a manner as
possible, the winery specializes in producing just two varietals: Pinot Grigio
and Merlot. All of the fruit for Barone Fini is sourced from old vines, is hand
harvested and subjected to rigorous hand sorting to ensure that only the best
fruit is used.
The son of Greenville's Francesco and Charlotte
Bonmartini-Fini, Giovanni has lived his life with one foot on each side
of the Atlantic Ocean. Born in Massachusetts, his formative years were
spent on his family’s farm on the shores of Lake Garda, attending various
schools in France, Italy, and Belgium. After Francesco's retirement as an
executive with Hercules Corporation, he became heavily involved in
the business of the winery. When the family returned to America, Giovanni
graduated from the Tatnall School in Wilmington in 1981. He speaks French,
Italian and English fluently.
Barone-Fini produces a lovely Merlot, but they are especially
known for their distinctive Pinot Grigio Valdadige and Pinot Grigio Alto
Adige. Created from relatively young vines planted about 25-30 years ago,
the wines are created to be medium-bodied, without harsh tannins or high
alcohol content. The vineyard produces 60,000 cases of Pinot Grigio a
year, 100,000 cases overall. Bottles are adorned with the striking
Bonmartini-Fini family crest.
This is a sneak peek of one of the wonderful silent auction items that
you will have a chance to bid on at the 2014 Hootenanny Hoedown. We
are thankful for Terry Conway for connecting us to the Bonmartini
family, and for this wonderful write up of Giovanni Bonmartini-Fini and
his wines. Purchase your tickets now to the 2014 Hootenanny
Hoedown and YOU could be the highest bidder on the case of Merlot and
Pinot Grigio adorned with the Bonmartini-Fini family crest.
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