Featured Winemaker

Khanh Nguyen & Franco Batzella

Batzella

Khanh Nguyen & Franco Batzella

In 1999, Khanh Nguyen and Franco Batzella, a couple who had worked for over 20 years in international finance, decided to return to Italy to take up a new life challenge. They founded the artisan winery estate Batzella in Tuscany, that enchanted land of vines and wines.

Following their motto Quaerando invenietis (keep searching and you will find), they combine their passion for perfection and the best grape growing and winemaking practices. In fact, Khanh went back to school and got a Master degree in Vineyard/Winery Management under the direction of Professor Attilio Scienza at the University of Milan. Thus working from vineyards in the two best Tuscan territories -Bolgheri (home of Sassicaia) and Montalcino (home of Brunello), their aim is to make wines that express the very best of the local terroirs and traditions, the Spirit of the land or Genius loci as the ancient Romans called it. In praise of the beauty of these Tuscan lands, the names chosen for some of the wines have been inspired by poetry quotations from two famous ‘native sons’ Giosue’ Carducci and Gabriele D’Annunzio.

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Featured Wine

J. Simonin Macon Vergisson

J. Simonin

J. Simonin Macon Vergisson

This “Cuvee” is made from young grape vines. In order to reduce and better control the yielding, grass is cultivated between the vine rows. The vinification is made in temperature controlled tanks and oak barrels.

Tasting Note
Light touches of oak and green apple. Mineral-rich, slightly vegetal and acidic.

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California

Nearly three-quarters the size of France, California accounts for nearly 90 percent of entire American wine production. The production in California alone is one third larger than that of Australia; if California were a separate country, it would be the world's fourth-largest wine producer. The state's viticultural history dates back to the 18th century when Spanish missionaries planted the first vineyards to produce wine for Mass. Following a wine renaissance in the mid-20th century, Californian wine entered the international stage at the 1976 Judgment of Paris wine competition when Californian wines beat out French wines in both red and white wine categories. Today there are more than 1,200 wineries in the state, ranging from small boutique wineries to large corporations with distribution across the globe.

Tantara Winery:

Tantara Bien Nacido Syrah
Tantara Lindsay’s Pinot Noir
Tantara Pinot Noir SMV
Tantara Pinot Noir Solomon Hills