ATTLEBORO β€’ NORWOOD β€’ STURBRIDGE β€’ SWANSEA
Ferrari-Carano
ο»ΏPinot Grigio 2021
I can't think of any winery that exhibits class like Ferrari Carrano. I think it stems from founders Don and Rhonda's exquisite taste and the road to creating Sonoma's Iconic winery. There is a sense of awe when you pass through the iron front gates and are greeted by the palatial estate that seems better suited to the picturesque grand estates of Italy. Manicured opulent gardens surround the winery, and the Italian-like villa, Villa Fiore, was created from imported Italian marble, complete with Roman statues lining its reflecting pool. This is a place where anything done here is done right.
Founders Don and Rhonda Carano are both second-generation Italian Americans from Reno, Nevada, where they owned the prestigious Eldorado Hotel/Casino. On a wine-buying trip to California's Sonoma County, the Carano couple fell in love with the area and purchased an old farmhouse surrounded by 30 acres of wine grapes in the Alexander Valley in 1981. Soon they became interested in winemaking, took some courses, bought 250 more acres of vineyards in the Alexander and Dry Creek Valleys, and hired acclaimed winemaker George Bursick. Their first wines were made in their barn, which they called "Carano Cellars" and gave to friends. A winery was constructed in 1985, and the first wine bearing the Ferrari-Carano name, 1985 Ferrari-Carano Alexander Valley Chardonnay, was released in 1987. To everyone's chagrin, that wine was awarded "Wine of the Year" by Wine Spectator and was the only wine featured on the cover. "We pretty quickly went from being just another struggling winery to being a major name in California white wine," recalls George Bursick. "Big restaurant sales, high name recognition." And the rest, as they say, is history.
Nestled in picturesque Dry Creek Valley, Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery have been home to award-winning wines, exquisite gardens, and breathtaking vineyard views for over 50 years. At the beautiful Italian-inspired hospitality center, Villa Fiore, guests have a choice to taste wines in; the Villa Fiore Wine Shop, at the Enoteca bar in the underground cellar, outside on Il Terrazzo, or during Sunday Wine and Brunch on the Sycamore Grove that overlooks the estate's vineyards.

Ferrari Carano was an early adapter of sustainable wine practices. All 24 of their vineyards, spanning 1,200 acres across three counties, were certified by the CSWA in 2015. In 2019 they were awarded Sustainable Producer/Maker of the Year. The list of their awards and certificates will make your eyes glaze over, but here are some fun facts about Ferrari Carano wines.
  • Baby Doll sheep are an ancient breed with sweet, woolly faces and great dispositions. Given their small stature – about two feet at maturity – the sheep are not tall enough to chew on the buds or grapes produced on the vines in the vineyards but are the perfect stature to munch on the green grass and weeds below, turning them into natural fertilizer.

  • Ferrari-Carano has more than seven miles of vineyard land bordering crucial waterways, including the Russian River, Dry Creek, and Dutcher Creek. These properties are Certified Fish Friendly Farming. Ferrari-Carano has participated in restoration projects to nurture local ecosystems, including planting native vegetation along the waterways to provide cool temperatures for fish and other aquatic riparian species, as well as to stabilize the riverbank to prevent erosion.

  • Using tree sap (lignin sulfonate) and crushed rock excavated from the surrounding mountain ranches is used instead of asphalt on the roads of vineyard properties. This treatment keeps dust mites at bay and reduces the risk of pollution that can wash into the area during rainfall.

  • Ferrari-Carano also goes above and beyond and provides rent-free housing for over 100 vineyard employees. A wellness program informs vineyard employees about living healthfully. During harvest, Ferrari-Carano prepares two meals per day (10,000 meals total) for workers. Each workhouse has purified filter water dispensers. And for work-related injuries for seasonal employees, free ground or air ambulance and a translator are provided. 
  • As previously mentioned, Ferrari-Carano Vineyards also has an exceptional garden. A major attraction is a beautiful cork tree that is a favorite among children and adults alike as they get to see where cork comes from and how it feels when you touch and squeeze a live cork tree and feel it flex in your hands.
Don and Rhonda Carano have always been very passionate about their Italian heritage and their philosophy of celebrating life. A point made evident in the choice of building their Estate Winery, Villa Fiore in Dry Creek Valley. 'The community itself was very inviting,' Rhonda Carano remembers, 'There were a lot of Italians in the area. We were made to feel at home.' Their Italian passion extends to part of their wine portfolio. A Sangiovese-based red blend called Sienna, a Rose made from Sangiovese. And a thirst-quenching Pinot Grigio, a wine sourced from estate vineyards in cool climate regions of Sonoma County, predominantly Russian River. 
From The Winery
Individual lots of hand-harvested grapes are gently whole-cluster pressed to minimize any color or harsh tannin extraction, then racked to stainless steel tanks for cold fermentation. This wine does not undergo malolactic fermentation, so it retains its bright flavors and crisp acidity. Depth and complexity are enhanced with weekly lees stirring until bottling.

This wine is the definition of what Pinot Grigio should be. Bright and refreshing, the wine opens with notes of honeysuckle, lychee and lemon-lime. The palate delivers a refreshing acidity coupled with flavors of white peach, orange blossom and a touch of minerality.

Sadly Don Carano passed in 2017, and as of 2020 is owned by another Sonoma family winemaker, Bill Foley, who is also known for creating exceptional wines.
Accolades
An aromatic nose of fresh tropical and stone fruit with a hint of wet stone. Medium-bodied, bright, fresh and clean. A pleasant, oily texture at the finish. Drink now. James Suckling 90 pts.

The 2021 Ferrari-Carano Pinot Grigio is bright, buoyant, and brisk. This wine shines with aromas and flavors of mineral notes, ripe fruit, and floral nuances. Enjoy it with a plate of raw, lemon-accented oysters. Wine.com 90 pts.
This Week's Wine Insider Offer
Ferrari-Carano Pinot Grigio 2021

This wine is a real crowd pleaser of a wine. In tasting this wine, big fruit on the nose, apple, pear, and some tropical fruit; on the palate, it has a medium body with ripe fruit and a long finish. Acid was there but not overpowering. This is the wine made for that big backyard party, small parties on the beach, or a candle-lit intimate party for two on the back deck.
Regular Price: $11.99
*Sale price is on 12 or more bottles
$24 Mail in Rebate on 12 bottles
Final Cost after MIR is $6.00 a bottle
Wine is packed in a 12-bottle case
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How To Place Your Order
To order, simply send an email to your preferred Yankee Spirits superstore with one of the addresses to the right, along with:

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All request are processed during business hours and in the order they are received. We'll confirm your order via email within 48 hours and when it is ready for pickup. Unless otherwise specified, promotional pricing ends two weeks from email send date.
YANKEE SPIRITS
STORE LOCATIONS
James Taylor
Don Ackerman
John Hannum
Barbara Holt
Pricing is subject to change without notice once this promotion ends in two weeks or when we run out of product. Whichever comes first.
Place your order now with the store contacts above, while you've got all the information at your fingertips.

Cheers!

John Hannum, Fine & Rare Wine Specialist
Attleboro
628 Washington St.
Norwood
942 Providence Hgwy.
Sturbridge
376 Main Street.
Swansea
207 Swansea Mall Dr.
Monday-Thursday
9AM to 9PM
Friday-Saturday
9AM to 10PM
Sunday
10AM to 6PM
We reserve the right to limit quantities. You must be at least 21 years of age to purchase/consume alcohol. Please drink responsibly. Not responsible for typographical errors. Rebate quantities are subject to limitation by the manufacturer. These alcoholic beverages may be subject to payment of Connecticut or Rhode Island Alcoholic Beverage Tax and Connecticut Use Tax, and may be subject to seizure as contraband.