While visiting Napa Valley, Sonoma County and various countries in Europe, I’ve walked through many vineyards. While the soil composition, elevation and grape varietals may vary, most vineyards appear similar. On a recent trip to Italy I visited Il Paradiso di Frassina in Montalcino, Italy and it’s unlike any other vineyard I’ve visited. You could say the owner of Il Paradiso di Frassina, Carlo Cignozzi, is unlike any other winery owner I’ve ever met as well! In the late 1990’s, Cignozzi began to reconstruct Il Paradiso di Frassina which had been vacant since the end of World War II. In addition to rebuilding the farmhouse and cellars which date back to Medieval times, Cignozzi replanted the vineyards with sangiovese grapes.
As part of the replanting, Cignozzi was convinced music played in the vineyard would benefit the grapes. To advance his theory he installed speakers in a 4 acre parcel he named Mozart Vineyard. Mozart Vineyard has 80 all weather speakers above and below ground which play Mozart classics 24 hours a day. In addition to the grapes benefiting from music, the workers in the vineyard enjoy it as well! Cignozzi’s logic was sound frequencies would augment leaf and grape growth, promote earlier ripening and protect the grapes by fending off parasites and bugs. The elimination of bugs has allowed Mozart Vineyard to avoid the use of pesticides. As the “project” gained attention, Bose Corporation got involved. In addition to providing speakers, Bose established research grants with the Universities of Pisa and Florence (Italy) to monitor the vineyard and grape production.
As I tasted the wines of Il Paradiso di Frassina with Cignozzi, it is clear he is passionate about his beliefs. He is currently producing three very good wines:
⁃ Moz Art Wine (Brunello Di Montalcino) from the Mozart Vineyard, 100% Sangiovese
⁃ 12 UVE (Maremma Toscana Rosso D.O.C.), a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cesanese, Ancellotta, Petit Verdot, Alicante, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Carmerere, Canaiolo and Ciliegiolo.
⁃ GEA (Rosso Di Montalcino D.O.C.), 100 Sangiovese
The story of the winery and on-going research was featured on CBS’s 60 Minutes. All the wines are imported to the United States if you want to taste and hear them!
