Cantina Zaccagnini

Welcome to Cantina Zaccagnini in Bolognano in the regione of Abruzzo. This is a privately owned vineyard that dear Antonio took us to for a private tour of the buildings and grounds.  I am always amazed that in Italy someone knows someone, who knows someone else and we get these incredible "hook-ups!"  As it was, Antonio knew the Manager ~ Signore Razzi, so we got a great private tour ~ up close and personal. Signore Razzi was so welcoming, charming and warm towards us.  Antonio explained to him that we would not be available to tour the winery and vineyard on the one weekend each year that they open it to the public which happened to be the following weekend!  Signore Razzi was very obliging to us by letting us tour it this particular day.  He introduced us to Helen who is a young woman  from Australia. Since Signore Razzi spoke no English and Helen spoke nearly perfect Italian, he asked her to accompaniy  us along our tour as a translator for him.  Helen's is an interesting story.  She and her sister, who also lives in Italy now, took a vacation to Italy 6 or so years ago, and they both fell in love with it.   They decided to eventually move there ~ found jobs at the winery, and met 2 Italian men and got married.  She said the work at the winery is very tedious but she loves it, and she now calls the Bolognano area "home." This was such a thrilling event for me since I am a lover of fine Italian wine and Signore Razzi appreciated that!  Little did I or Pamela realize that during our tour we would be taken to the new wing upstairs where all the taste testing occurs, and we would find a lavish assortment of most of the wines made on the grounds neatly set up on a table, just waiting for us to indulge ourselves. Antonio had seen this vineyard probably  more times than I could imagine, but his enthusiasm was equal to our's.  At one point he pretended he was an employee there and we made sure we caught that on camera... what a great sense of humor... Signore Razzi, Helen and several other employees made us feel so welcomed as we strolled through all the different areas.  I particularly loved the rooms with the large oak barrels... I instinctually knew that there were some exquisite wines just ready to be tasted by us, and on those occasions when the wine was not quite ready and hadn't been bottled, Signore Razzi climbed a short way up the ladders with glasses in hand to tap the wine from the top for us to sample and savor. ..

Manager ~ Senior Razzi

Donamaria, Antonio and Pamela "showcasing" the wine

Left - Part of the vineyard.  The structure on the upper left corner of this photo is the newest addition to the winery.  This is the tasting area.  One of the large windows looks like an "EYE" and that's what they call it.  The "EYE" watches over the vineyards.  Center photo below taken from near the "EYE" Right - Just another lovely view of the vineyard

Singore Razzi explained how they grow the grapes for their wine to improve the "Montepulciano of Abruzzo"  in the vineyard. It's an interesting story... We wondered why their were rose bushes at the end of each row of grapes and found out that very sophisticated tests were done by scientists on the soil and after those tests the rose bushes were planted to tell the wine master how the soil is doing.  If the roses stay fresh and perfect they know the grapes are doing just as well... when a bush is "sick" they know those grapes growing in that row are "sick" also.  The bushes are as beautiful as the grape vines... Cantina Zaccagnini prides itself on it's labeling.  Every year they invite a different artist to design their bottle labels for the coming year's crop.  My favorite was the astrological series, and Signore Razzi gave Antonio, Pamela and myself each a bottle of wine with our specific astrological sign on the front.  What a treat that was!   Our wine tasting event was so much fun.  I would have to admit that I drank more than anyone else!  Antonio stopped at a few glasses ~ he said it would go to his head and someone needed to be "clear" for driving.  Pamela drank until she was tipsey, and frankly, I drank till I was the same ~ it just took me a while longer to get there ;-)  Signore Razzi told us that their finest wine, "San Clemente" is being served at the Vatican.   He said a Sister who had previously drunk their finest told a Priest associated with the Vatican about their wine.  Someone claiming to be from the Vatican called the Cantina and requested they send their wine list and pertinent information to the Vatican...  Cantina thought someone was playing a joke on them, didn't take it seriously, and never forwarded the requested information.  About a year later they learned that it really was NO joke, that indeed the Vatican did call and request the information... They immediately called and forwarded the information along.  The rest of the story is, as they say, "history."  I brought home several bottles of this exquisite red wine...as well a few other lines ~ Ibisco Bianco and Cantina Zaccagnini.  With tipsey heads we thanked Signore Razzi and Helen for their time and the comprehensive tour of Cantina Zaccagnini... it was an experience I will cherish dearly...

Top Left - One of the many workers at Cantina Zaccagnini... we tried to distract him but he dilligently kept working Top Center - A part of the crops.  Photo taken from atop near the "EYE." Top Right - This is a wall that one of their famous artists signed.  Signore Razzi was quite proud of it and suggested we have our pictures taken in front of it. If you have a few moments please take some time to stop by and visit Cantina Zaccagnini... here is a link:  Cantina Zaccagnini

Salute...

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