A Vineyard in Tuscany: A Wine Lover's Dream
"A sun-drenched memoir with a fairy-tale ending."—Kirkus ReviewsIn this laugh-out-loud tale, two adventurers discover that rare combination: joy and success. Candace, a painter, and Ferenc, a writer, begin a new life near the hill town of Montalcino. They restore a thirteenth-century friary, plant fifteen acres of vines, build a winery, tame a runaway tractor, excavate an Etruscan village, and battle volcanic fermenting vats, while learning from famous vintner neighbor Angelo Gaja the secrets of growing the best grapes and making superb, award-winning wine. This extraordinary tale will enrich the lives of travelers and wine lovers alike. A New York Times Book Review 2007 Notable Travel Book.
Product Details
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Hungarian-Canadian author and sailor Máté (The Hills of Tuscany) recounts in wry, candid detail how he rebuilt a Tuscan ruin into a world-class winery. Living in Tuscany with his artist wife and son while savoring the landscape, food and pleasant neighbors wasn't enough for Máté, who admits he thrives on adversity. He wanted his own castle and finagles the purchase of a 13th-century friary in Montalcino, with a proper forno (oven), a forest crammed with porcini and 60 acres of land—15 of which he fashions over three hard years of work into a vineyard sprouting robust harvests of Sangiovese, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and Syrah grapes. His diary of sorts regales the reader on the process of restoring the ancient ruin, called La Colombaio: first by detailing how an Etruscan house was constructed, then by observing how the various workmen were hired (and what they ate for lunch). While hacking in the forest, he finds the remains of a 3,000-year-old city, inviting the interest of archeologists. Máté breaks from the construction and excavation for treks through the Dolomites before returning to prepare for the toilsome but ultimately satisfying vendemmia (harvest). (Oct.)
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Review
Muscular prose...like Paul Bunyan on a Tuscan holiday...cool, robust, determined....Máté has created a wine in his own image. -- The New Yorker
Readers share a feeling of accomplishment and pride when their Syrah is voted 'Italian Red Wine of the Year' by Morrell. -- The New York Times Book Review
These are the tales that inspire the soul. -- Seattle Post Intelligencer
About the Author
Ferenc MáTé's books of photography include the highly acclaimed The World's Best Sailboats. He lives in Italy.
Customer Reviews
Not the real essence of life in Toscana
After enjoying Sig. Mate's first book , I was quite delighted to see the new one. However I must say it was disappointing, to say the least. He has become the Frances Mayes of Montalcino! Although he did recognize the many people who came to his aid for the house and vineyard, I really grew bored hearing about the Banfi and Gaja and all the people who really aren't the norm in Toscana.
And everything so perfect. From the porcini in the forest to the century old resources for his home. Che noioso!
I am happy for the success of the wine but with his circumstances including location and wealth, who couldn't have done it!
Perhaps someday he will find the real essence of Tuscany and see how we really enjoy our lives and our friends and family.
fun read but not more
5 stars here--are you kidding me? he's definitely a guy you'd like and want to have bruschetta and brunello with. and his story is charming but be realistic. this book is written in a very simplistic way and the beauty of tuscany cannot be captured with this "prose". and details, details, details....somehow he has the finances to restore this vineyard while apparently not working and still having his son in a private school in Rome, hours away? c'mon. you've lost most of the details and have settled for a lot of the embellishments. kudos to ferenc for his superb achievements and i did enjoy reading it but at the 2 star level. it was not a wasted effort but it was mediocre mostly due to the storytelling. frances mayes story of the agonies and ecstasies of her tuscan adventure was an infinitely better read---detail and prose wise. it's a fun read. it is not a 5 star read. no way.
In vino veritas
In wine there is truth, or at least in this case, wisdom and a beautifully written book. I have been a fan of Mr. Mate's writing for many years and this book does not disappoint. Written in a similar style to The Hills of Tuscany, Mr. Mate brings the reader along on his quest to restore a dilapidated friary and establish a vineyard of his own. Equal parts insight, humor (the tractor driving experiment) and adventure; Mr. Mate has once again blended a perfect read.
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