A Vineyard in Tuscany: A Wine Lover's Dream

This book is inspiring. It makes you want to go out and chase that elusive and audacious dream--the dream the rationale part of your brain says will never fly. What Ferenc and his wife Candace did (creating a winery from scratch in the heart of Italian wine country!) was incredibly gutsy...and just plain crazy! But they made it work, producing highly rated wines, and had a hell of a good time while they were at it. I loved the book so much I ordered some bottles directly from the Mate's web site. I received lovely replies from both Mates. These are real people, working a real vineyard (and not some factory-run mockery of a winery). I'd love to shake their grape and soil stained hands. And now I'm going to go tell my wife about that dream I have of...

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

One of the best books on the struggles of establishing a great vineyard and the hard work that goes into wine making. As a fellow Hungarian I am even more impressed by the crafting of this book. Great writing! It is obvious the author had fun with it.

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

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.