In the Wijntoren Logbook, we take you on our quest for the most characterful wines from small producers. Today, we share the story of how a campervan trip on incredibly narrow roads led to a lifelong friendship and the foundation of our Wine Cellar.
The search for true craftsmanship
The plan was simple: travel to Italy, the country we've been visiting all our lives, and look for the farmers you don't find with a giant billboard along the highway. We wanted to find the real producers you really need to look for. We drove our campervan into the mountains, along narrow roads where the mirrors nearly touched the rock faces and the tree branches scraped the sides of the campervan. Sometimes it was a bit of a challenge to make it through, but that's where you'll find the real gems.
Finally, we arrived at the Ferrante family's house. No fancy reception or modern tasting room, but a warm welcome from host Tommaso and his wife in their own home. The tasting took place at a wooden table in a cozy space, with local cheese, fresh bread, and meat to bring out the perfect palette of flavors. You could see a few large wooden barrels just around the corner. No fuss, just in the home.
Unprecedented hospitality
What makes the Ferrante family's wines special is Tommaso's storytelling. He doesn't dwell on technical flavor profiles; he shares his feelings and passion. His stories give you a completely different experience of the wine you're drinking.
That evening, their hospitality proved even greater than we'd anticipated. After tasting a few wines, we still needed dinner, but they didn't have anything left. Nevertheless, Mrs. Ferrante was so hospitable that she immediately offered to make something special for us. We, of course, said, "No way, that's fantastic, your hospitality is more than enough."
Instead, they invited us to join them for ice cream at Gelateria Copa De Dora in the village of San Vito Chietino. We stayed there until 11:00 PM among the locals, and then went for a nighttime stroll together. Back at the house, they lovingly asked if we'd rather sleep inside instead of in the campervan in the driveway. Out of politeness, we said we'd sleep in the campervan anyway, but the offer was heartwarming. Mrs. Ferrante then immediately asked what we'd like for breakfast the next morning. Again, out of politeness, we said, "No, nothing of course, that's really sweet, but you don't have to arrange that."
When the De Wijntoren team woke up the next morning around 8:00 AM, it turned out they hadn't accepted our "no." A typical Italian breakfast was waiting for us in the tasting room: something sweet and a fresh espresso. We sat there with Tommaso, his wife, their son Manuel, and his wife, enjoying their immense hospitality.
A Voice for the Vineyard
After breakfast, we hopped in Tommaso's car and headed to the vineyards. He passionately recounted the journey of the grapes: from planting to the meticulous handiwork of harvesting. At the first vineyard, he showed us footage of their vineyard festivals. A beautiful sight: people enjoying wine on straw bales, dancing to live music, while children played in a paddling pool among the vines.
But we also saw the other side. In a field further along, the plants looked much more somber. This field had been harvested mechanically. You could sense the sadness in Tommaso's voice as he explained how sad it is that the old ways are sometimes lost due to a lack of labor. He spoke of the plants as if they had their own voice; hand-harvesting keeps the plant alive, while the machine works with a heavy hand.
From grape to glass
After visiting the vineyards, we were given a tour of the equipment, which was set up outside. Tommaso showed us how they transform the grapes into their superb wines and explained the fermentation process. We even got to taste the wine while it's still developing.
With a wonderful story and a trunk full of honest wines, we continued our search for new, inspiring stories. This passion and the "voice" of the Ferrante family are what we bring to De Wijntoren with every bottle.
Curious about the whole story and the wines of this special family?
Tenuta Ferrante
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