Enrico's rescue mission: A hectare of pure craftsmanship

We believe a wine only truly tastes good when you know the story of its maker. In "The Wine Stories," we share our encounters with farmers who still have their feet firmly planted in the soil. Today, the story of Enrico and Spring from Colle San Massimo. A tale of love for grandpa's vineyard, nights spent in the farmyard, and craftsmanship on a stool.

An exciting path through the olive groves

Our first encounter with Enrico was an adventure in itself. To reach the winery from the south, we had to take a path clearly not designed for campers. The olive trees along the road hadn't been pruned to our height, and their branches hung low over the narrow path. At a respectable pace and with a fair amount of zigzagging, we made our way through the greenery for a mile and a half until we reached the top of the hill. Their hospitality was immediately palpable, as they even allowed us to spend the night in their camper on their property that first time.

The 'Italian Groninger' and his grandfather

Enrico is a remarkable figure. After living in America for years, his blood ran deep. He missed authentic Italian pasta and felt a calling to continue his grandfather's vineyard and save it from ruin. In 2005, he decided that making wine was the only way to save this land.

He talks about his craft with a simple, down-to-earth approach. Passionate, yet incredibly down-to-earth. He's a kind of Italian Groninger who doesn't beat around the bush, but simply shares his honest opinion of the wine. For Enrico, it's all about allowing nature to exert its influence on the grapes without him interfering too much.

Grapes like berries and old stones

On our second visit, we left the camper at the campsite and cycled up through the sun-drenched olive groves. It was a wonderful way to truly embrace the surroundings. Spring took us into the vineyard and showed us the enormous difference between table grapes and wine grapes. While we're used to large grapes for cheese platters, the wine grapes here almost resemble a berry. They're small, concentrated, and bursting with flavor. They use virtually no pesticides here to keep the fruit pure.

In the authentic cellar, you can feel the history. This space is part of the old stone house that Enrico himself completely renovated. Enrico and Spring gave us a tour of the place where they bottle and store the wines themselves, nestled between the old stone walls. Although we didn't see the hand presses and cement vats in action this time, we did sense the tranquility and simplicity of their process.

Craftsmanship on a stool

The most beautiful glimpse into their craftsmanship came when we saw Enrico sitting on a small stool. He was carefully filling six bottles at a time with his white wine by hand. No large machines or conveyor belts, just pure attention to each bottle. They even apply the logo to the bottle themselves. It's a drawing Enrico made himself when he was just three years old. With a production of only 5,000 to 10,000 bottles per year, every bottle that leaves here has literally passed through their hands.

With the wine in the backpack

After tasting their unique wines, we were immediately sold at De Wijntoren. We sampled everything from dark rosés to reds best enjoyed chilled. The grandfather's story, his return from America, and the passion in that old stone cellar complete the experience.

With our backpacks loaded with the first bottles of Colle San Massimo, we cycled back to the campsite. This is exactly what De Wijntoren stands for. A special product with a personal story that's certainly not run-of-the-mill.

Curious about the wines of the man on the stool?

View the unique collection of Colle San Massimo here