Montoliva Wine & Vineyards

Giving The Vineyard a Good “Greenwashing

It’s a common question. Sitting out on the deck of the winery building, looking out over acres of lovingly-tended vineyard, soaking up the ambiance (and a bit of Montoliva wine), I’m often asked, “are you certified organic?”. Hoo Boy, want to get me wound up? Ask me about “organic” farming.  I am not “certified” organic.

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The Benefits of Achieving “Rock Star” Status

It is during the cold, wet winter months that I endeavor to get most of our bottling done here at Montoliva. Unlike most 1,500-2,000 case-a-year wineries, I own all my own bottling equipment, and thus have the luxury of moving wine from barrel in to bottle slowly and methodically.  The goal is usually to get

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Mining Silver in Gold Country

Being a boutique winery among Grass Valley wineries has certain size advantages…1,500 case annual output isn’t a lot of wine. We also have certain size disadvantages…a 1,500 case a year winery isn’t going to be springing for a Publicist, PR person or “Campaign” manager. Heck, I can barely justify a gig-based “social media” manager. This

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It’s Wine Competition Season

I am quite ambivalent about commercial wine competitions. In the best of circumstances they can be a bit of a crap shoot. You don’t want to be the first wine that the judging panels samples (they aren’t going to give a gold medal to the first wine they taste), and if you are in a

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I’m Making Wine, Naturally.

If you have ever visited us and heard me wax philosophic about winemaking, you know that I use a lot of labels. “Olde World”, “New World”, “Organic”, “Sustainable”, “Earth-y”, “Dry”, “Flabby”, “rustic” (my new, favorite word).  They are all ultimately short-hand for what can be much more complex dynamics. Here in modern American society we

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Join the Chicago Park Wine Society

The Chicago Park Wine Society is a special release club, offering exclusive opportunities to sample and purchase pre-release and limited release wines.

Club Members also receive a 20% discount on all of our other wines – this means you are paying $13.50 for our multiple-award-winning Sierra Bella!

Your commitment is 2 bottles each of two different wines, four times a year. Join the club and enjoy wines nobody else makes, or can obtain.

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