Aileen McGinnis
From Ireland to India to Italy...

When I boarded the plane to Mumbai in 2003, I never thought for a moment that later that year would I be experiencing life in Chianti, Tuscany… But only through meeting Alessandra Scwhenn from ‘Dievole’ on a yoga course in Nasik, India and volunteering my services as a yoga teacher in her health spa, did I find myself later working in the vineyard and then the cellar at Montemaggio, Radda In Chianti...
As the tourist season started to slow down I found myself drawn to the vineyard where I participated in my first vendemmia (harvest), it was here I got my first taste of what the whole organic winemaking process involves….
Here, we merrily clipped, (until the tiredness kicked in!) the ripe fruits of the vines, to gather together in the cellar where the better grapes are selected, the stalks are removed and pumped into the vat, the juice and pulp of the grapes begin to separate from the skins, the magic begins…

Working with Marco, be it in the vineyard or the cellar, it soon became apparent how passionate and how real he felt about the whole process of making organic wine, from the first bud to the end product in the bottle. Marco was a great teacher and his enthusiasm was infectious.

Although it was hard at times, be it in the freezing cold winter, pruning in the snow that hasn’t melted for weeks, or in the baking summer sun tidying up any strays or clearing back any overgrowth to allow the maturing grapes to breathe…

I soon started to enjoy life in the vineyard, through the seasons and the various phases in the cellar (although I have to say I am less experienced in his area…)

I have worked with Marco in various vineyards, and learnt a great deal about the life of the vine… I now not only enjoy the whole process but love the humble vines that make a vineyard...

Treating the vineyard and the soil with respect is fundamental to the way we work, which is why we firmly believe in organic grapes and agriculture and not only but the whole organic way of life. We have to work in harmony with Mother Nature in order to safeguard the planet for future generations… it is integral to maintain the balance of our ecosystem. We are firmly against pesticides and their use in any shape or form.
Organic food simply tastes better, has more prana (vital energy) and is the healthy choice for your family… and drinking Organic wine should certainly give you much less of a headache.

I would love for VinoSveritas to find a patch of land to cultivate and keep bringing you the genuine wines to enjoy...

Chianti certainly is a special place ‘baciato da Dio’ (‘kissed by God’) and and with each new season I love living here even more… who knows where the future may bring us?

I would definitely love to explore and understand more about biodynamic agriculture, a very interesting and philosophical approach… Having had the good fortune to taste biodynamic wine and champagne, the experiences were memorable. The flavours are crisp, clean and light and the fruits are real...

(If anyone was interested in the topic of yoga from before, I also love teaching yoga… Yoga class outdoors on an early summer Chianti morning is another treat altogether… watch this space for more classes coming soon…)