Product Description

"A sun-drenched memoir with a fairy-tale ending."—Kirkus Reviews

In 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

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45372 in Books
• Published on: 2008-11-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 250 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780920256589
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

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.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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

A book to be savored and enjoyed, just like a fine Chianti
There is something both exhilarating and heartwarming reading the exploits of an author who lives and ultimately accomplishes his dream. The story becomes even more uplifting when his or her aspirations can be shared by readers who have experienced the joys described in the adventure. Ferenc Máté had a dream to move to Tuscany, own a vineyard and produce award-winning wine. A VINEYARD IN TUSCANY is the story of how he and his wife accomplished that goal. For anyone who has visited the beautiful province described in his glorious prose and partaken of the wines produced in its vineyards, this book is to be savored and enjoyed, just like a fine Chianti or other exquisite wine of the region.

Of course one does not just decide on a whim that a Tuscan vineyard is their life ambition. Máté sets the scene for readers by describing in beautiful detail his family life in Italy. He and his wife Candace, a painter, had purchased and restored a small villa in Tuscany called La Marinaia (an apt name for property owned by Máté, who has written several books with nautical themes). While he loved the property, the two acres of land were far too small to allow him to fulfill his dream: the production of a world-class wine with his name on the label. An undertaking such as this requires far more than growing grapes. Italian winemakers toil on the land where their grapes are produced and attend to each and every aspect of the wine production. The end product is the result of personal blood, sweat and tears.

A VINEYARD IN TUSCANY details Máté's search for precisely the right piece of property on which to produce his wine. But the property is but one of many required pieces of the dream. After finding what seemed to be a glorious vineyard of 15 acres, Máté meets his vintner neighbor, Angelo Gaja, and learns the story behind the production of the world-renowned Gaja wines. It would serve as a roadmap and inspiration for Máté. Shortly after their first meeting, Gaja presents him with a $400 housewarming gift: a bottle of Sori San Lorenzo wine. Máté's dinner guests treat the gift as though it is the Holy Grail.

The new vineyard requires several laborious tasks before wine can be produced. The property includes a 13th century friary that will be converted into a home and winery. As the author details the rebuilding and construction effort, readers can almost see the dollar bills (or perhaps, more appropriately, the Euros) hemorrhaging from his accounts. One thing is clear from this book: producing a world-class wine is neither a simple task nor an effort where one cuts financial corners. For Máté the end result is the achievement of his dream. His wines receive international acclaim; in fact, his Máté Syrah is voted the 2007 Italian Wine of the Year. The book's last pages contain information and comments on the various products of the vineyard. Italian food lovers will also find some classic Tuscan recipes to please the palate while enjoying any fine wine.

A VINEYARD IN TUSCANY is a delightful and humorous tale that combines elements of travelogue and wine drinking for readers interested in either subject. Anyone who has traveled to Tuscany or Italy will find pleasure in the detail of the Italian countryside as recreated by Máté. Any lover of wine will understand why the Italians take meticulous effort to produce wines that have no equal in the world. Like the wines he creates, Máté has written a book that readers can consume with pleasure and delight.

--- Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman

"INSIDER INFO BY KNOWLEDGEABLE OUTSIDER REGARDING: A VINEYARD IN TUSCANY"

To all those who yearn to live in Tuscany, own a vineyard and become wine-makers in Tuscany, or simply bona fide wine lovers, who enjoy the finished product: don't miss reading A VINEYARD IN TUSCANY by Ferenc Màté. This is the rollicking and sometimes poignant story, which shoves romanticism aside and gets down to the nitty-gritty = HOW TO DO IT! Candace and Ferenc Màté are the new kids on the block by Tuscan vintner standards; but the age-old makers of Brunello di Montalcino can only smile at their neighbours while welcoming them to the brotherhood.

Just to set the record straight: Candace is the brain and Ferenc is the brawn behind the Màté Vineyards...(va bene, let's give Ferenc credit for spawning the original dream of wanting to own a vineyard.) Màté describes their adventures, which include the search for the perfect land for planting vines; restoration of an ancient friary, "IL COLOMBAIO" which becomes their home, installation of the vineyard, and finally making their own wine.

WOMEN WINE-MAKERS REJOICE!! Candace Màté is your patron saint! Interestingly enough, it is F. Màté's wife Candace, who has always been the steady hand at the helm and the one who gives birth to the dream. Candace Màté did the wine-making R & D, finished a 2 year course in Rome, and is now a certified sommelier. She tended, nursed, pampered, soothed their wine and finally MARKETED the Màté label! And if excellent chef, and fantastic Mom to their son Peter don't suffice, she is also a talented artist! When you buy your first bottles of Mantus, Banditone, Albatro, or Màté Brunello di Montalcino, please note her sensuous paintings which became the labels. You almost want to enlarge them to poster size and frame them!

Now, you ask yourself, where is Ferenc, in the meantime? Like a man, off on one of his "mis-adventures": wrestling with the sand-blasting machine which becomes an uncontrollable cobra, or initiation day on the new FIAT caterpillar-track tractor, where he successfully destroys garden, chicken coop and a portion of the woods. Cool, calm and minute Candace is always there on the sidelines to rescue Ferenc with a piece of her amazing crostata, or a good dose of alcohol to keep his blood-sugar level up. Need I mention that she single-handedly held down the fort & ran the estate while Ferenc has spent the last 3 years between NYC finishing A VINEYARD IN TUSCANY, and Tahiti writing another sailing adventure book.

But, God bless his heart; Ferenc Màté's bumbling, playfully-mad, Hungarian spirit carries us through a delightful & humorous romp...and I don't just mean crushing grapes! I do chide his swashbuckling, Madonna-invoking swearing, (a big NO-NO even among hardened Italian criminals).Yet, he is so candid and ready to acknowledge his shortcomings, that he is loveable, and thus forgiven as he tickles you from chapter 1-38.

I was honoured to see that, Sandro & I make a cameo appearance. Grazie caro Ferenc, but loquacious-soul that I am, please give me longer lines next time!!
Signore e Signori, enjoy reading A VINEYARD IN TUSCANY, the ethereal dream to plant a vineyard in Tuscany and make your own wine. A dream that didn't elude Candace and Ferenc Màté.

JOYCE MARIE DITTEMORE; "VILLA LA TORRE"; 86 CECILIANO DI AREZZO, ITALY
2005girasole@libero.it

Well-written, hilarious story!
This book is really a journal describing a personal quest rather than a manual on how to build a vineyard, although that is what happens. The author's self-deprecating sense of humor is key as he describes the sometimes absurd challenges he and his family faced renovating an ancient "ruin" into a functioning home complete with a world-class vineyard. His love of Tuscany is demonstrated throughout by the charming descriptions of the people he encounters. The evident quality of the wine they ultimately produced (I haven't tried it yet, but hope to) makes me wish there was even more detail about how they did it, but this story is more about the journey than the final, bottled result. Great book.