HOME GROWN 2011 Barbera 2011, California

SPIRIT/Wine PEEK Sponsored By: HOME GROWN 2011 Barbera 2011, California

A full-bodied, mini mouth explosion of juicy red fruit made in California.

Well-priced, everyday, drinkable, chewy wine that tastes like it is from Italy, but made in California in the Italian old world style. They explain in their own words " A hundred years ago, when Italian families settled in California, they planted their grapes differently than we do today. There were no wire-trained plots of merlot, stretching for miles. Instead, they planted a few acres of head-pruned grapes, all mixed up: Carignane, Zinfandel, Palomino, funky Italian varietals . . .not even row by row, but all sprinkled together. No, they did not all ripen on the same day. But when there was a general family vibe that it was time to pick, they picked. The more ripe grapes gave plumpness; the less ripe grapes gave zip. Building character the old-fashioned way, layer by layer.

Most people dont grow or harvest grapes that way anymore. But those old Italian vineyards still exist in the hills of northern California, and the wines they create, called "Italian Field Blends" are the role model for Home Grown."

Plus, the winery has a sense of humor adding a quote on the back of each bottle. Mine read: "Smoke your bacon. Drink your home grown." Wine makers English Knowles and Tammi Buchignani Iinvite you to collect all 6 sayings on their labels and redeem for a special Home Grown Gift on their website.  $10.99.

Fun! http://www.homegrownfarms.com

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