had a great chat with Kristin Marchesi, head of marketing and communications for Montinore Estate this week. I was able to learn quite a bit about this great winery, their biodynamic certification and their overall approach to making excellent wine.
As I mentioned in my last article, I spent the week learning more about biodynamic certification and trying some of Montinore's wines side by side with other wines that were not organic or biodynamic. In my opinion, the difference was staggering. For me, Montinore won hands down as their wine was consistently better tasting and very well-rounded. If you haven't taken the opportunity to taste two seemingly similar wines that have been grown in different ways, I would recommend trying it. I think it's amazingly eye-opening.
On a bit of a side note: wine writer/blogger, Amy Atwood wrote an entry on her "mydailywine" blog (*highly recommended reading*) on how she had been spoiled by organic wines and how it had changed her reaction to wines that aren't grown organically...and I must agree! This same phenomenon is happening to me. Read Amy's article here. After tasting a Pinot Gris and a Riesling from another vineyard and the Montinore Estate Pinot Gris & Sweet Reserve Riesling, the difference between the two (natural vs conventional) was phenomenal.
Kristin Marchesi's dad, Rudy, assumed ownership of Montinore Estate in January 2006 after being involved with the winery since 1992. The Estate transitioned to Organic in 2001 and then to Biodynamic in 2005, receiving their Demeter Certification in 2008. Kristin mentioned that even though the transition to Biodynamic was very difficult and complicated, it has had incredible benefits. Those benefits include lower farming costs, substantially increased vineyard health and improvement of overall wine quality.
Biodynamic farming does require thinking outside of the normal "farming box", meaning farmers need to be open to learning new methods that are very different from the conventional farming methods they were trained in. It requires using organic soil treatments (natural teas are used) and focusing on preserving a healthy and diverse ecosystem, which in turn improves grape quality and consumer health. Rudy Marchesi feels the organic and biodynamic methods used at Montinore Estate help the wines better express their own unique personalities. I would have to agree after enjoying their wine this week!
You can visit Montinore in Forest Grove, OR at 3663 SW DIlley Road or reach them by phone at (503) 359-5012 or (888) 359-5012. Click here to visit their website and stock up on their wine!
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