Comments on: Tintilia - Molise’s Native Son? http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/09/21/tintilia-molises-native-son/ A Wine Blog Dedicated To Terrior Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:06:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Tom C http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/09/21/tintilia-molises-native-son/comment-page-1/#comment-269217 Tom C Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:45:52 +0000 http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/09/21/tintilia-molises-native-son/#comment-269217 Aurora- Very interesting regarding the connection to Tenerife...And while you say that Tintilia does not seem to be native to Tenerife, it seems unlikely that it was carried all the way from little, isolated Molise to Tenerife, which may point once again to the vine's Spanish origins, but there also is lots of Charbonneaux in California, and a fair amount of Cinsault grows in Kazakhstan, so stranger things have happened! As far as the weather in Molise, clearly you live there and I don't but I do have to say that the one time I was there in February it was COLD - An old friend of mine lived in Sepino. He had a cousin that live near Pietrabbondante. Gianluca (this friend) wanted to take us there to see the Samnite ruins, but his cousin said that the roads were way too snowy and icy to risk it...clearly this was just one instance, but for lots of non-Italians who would look at Molise's location on the "boot" and think that the weather might be more like Puglia than Umbria or Toscana...but as you know, it depends on WHERE in Molise you are - the differences in climate between Termoli and Capracotta for example are HUGE due to the influences of the Adriatic Sea on Termoli versus the elevation of Capracotta... I'd love to come back to Molise (last time I was there was 1990!). If I do, I'll definitely call before I stop by. TOM CIOCCO Aurora-

Very interesting regarding the connection to Tenerife…And while you say that Tintilia does not seem to be native to Tenerife, it seems unlikely that it was carried all the way from little, isolated Molise to Tenerife, which may point once again to the vine’s Spanish origins, but there also is lots of Charbonneaux in California, and a fair amount of Cinsault grows in Kazakhstan, so stranger things have happened!

As far as the weather in Molise, clearly you live there and I don’t but I do have to say that the one time I was there in February it was COLD - An old friend of mine lived in Sepino. He had a cousin that live near Pietrabbondante. Gianluca (this friend) wanted to take us there to see the Samnite ruins, but his cousin said that the roads were way too snowy and icy to risk it…clearly this was just one instance, but for lots of non-Italians who would look at Molise’s location on the “boot” and think that the weather might be more like Puglia than Umbria or Toscana…but as you know, it depends on WHERE in Molise you are - the differences in climate between Termoli and Capracotta for example are HUGE due to the influences of the Adriatic Sea on Termoli versus the elevation of Capracotta…

I’d love to come back to Molise (last time I was there was 1990!). If I do, I’ll definitely call before I stop by.

TOM CIOCCO

]]> By: Aurora Cascitelli http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/09/21/tintilia-molises-native-son/comment-page-1/#comment-268985 Aurora Cascitelli Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:08:29 +0000 http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/09/21/tintilia-molises-native-son/#comment-268985 Hello, dear Tom. Very well done...yes, we are still waiting for a definite answer on its origin. The University of Molise is working on it and we keep our fingers crossed. But, I am afraid, I have to contradict You when You say "there is no Tintilia currently growing anywhere in contemporary Spain". A couple of weeks ago, I was looking for news on internet and found it is cultivated in the Canarian Islands, in particular in Tenerife. Now, it is true that, for what I could understand, it seems not to be an autochthonous variety but, You can find it there! The second thing I would like to point out is the sentence in which You say that despite its geographical position, "Molise is frequently amongst the coldest places in Italy during winter" and also "Molise's climate is fairly harsh"...well, I do not think You have ever been here! We have a lovely mild climate during most of the year but, of course, we do have some months during which You feel winter! Maybe what You say about the climate was true when Your grandparents left Molise but not now...have You ever heard of "global warming" (unfortunately)? Anyway, I agree with You when You say that pairs well with grilled red meats...definitely true! You can feel a strong taste of pepper on Your tongue!... Why do not You come to Molise and visit us? CANTINE CIPRESSI C.DA MONTAGNA SAN FELICE DEL MOLISE (CB) We will be happy to drink with You a nice glass of Tintilia... Aurora. Hello, dear Tom.

Very well done…yes, we are still waiting for a definite answer on its origin. The University of Molise is working on it and we keep our fingers crossed. But, I am afraid, I have to contradict You when You say “there is no Tintilia currently growing anywhere in contemporary Spain”. A couple of weeks ago, I was looking for news on internet and found it is cultivated in the Canarian Islands, in particular in Tenerife. Now, it is true that, for what I could understand, it seems not to be an autochthonous variety but, You can find it there!
The second thing I would like to point out is the sentence in which You say that despite its geographical position, “Molise is frequently amongst the coldest places in Italy during winter” and also “Molise’s climate is fairly harsh”…well, I do not think You have ever been here! We have a lovely mild climate during most of the year but, of course, we do have some months during which You feel winter! Maybe what You say about the climate was true when Your grandparents left Molise but not now…have You ever heard of “global warming” (unfortunately)?

Anyway, I agree with You when You say that pairs well with grilled red meats…definitely true! You can feel a strong taste of pepper on Your tongue!…

Why do not You come to Molise and visit us?
CANTINE CIPRESSI
C.DA MONTAGNA
SAN FELICE DEL MOLISE (CB)

We will be happy to drink with You a nice glass of Tintilia…

Aurora.

]]> By: Julian http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/09/21/tintilia-molises-native-son/comment-page-1/#comment-268873 Julian Wed, 26 Sep 2007 10:56:20 +0000 http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/09/21/tintilia-molises-native-son/#comment-268873 Now there's a coincidence. We're currently being encouraged to import some Molise wines from Cantine Cipressi, and in the new year we just might. I'll certainly be requesting samples. The Molise wine that we've had up until now comes from a rather anonymous concern and is all Montepulciano, but I've always liked it and often wondered what 'the real thing' was like. I look forward to next spring and finding out! Now there’s a coincidence. We’re currently being encouraged to import some Molise wines from Cantine Cipressi, and in the new year we just might. I’ll certainly be requesting samples. The Molise wine that we’ve had up until now comes from a rather anonymous concern and is all Montepulciano, but I’ve always liked it and often wondered what ‘the real thing’ was like. I look forward to next spring and finding out!

]]> By: Carlos Gomez-Moreno http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/09/21/tintilia-molises-native-son/comment-page-1/#comment-265708 Carlos Gomez-Moreno Tue, 25 Sep 2007 03:10:11 +0000 http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/09/21/tintilia-molises-native-son/#comment-265708 Hey Tom! Thanks again for illuminating us on this fascinating obscure varietals. Just a historical correction. You mention "Further, Molise, which for a long time was contained within the greater orbit of Naples, which in turn had begun to be dominated by the Aragonese Bourbon dynasty in the early 1700s". No argument with the first part of the sentence, but the second is a bit mixed up. It's true that Aragon dominated the Kingdom of Naples from 1453 before joining Castille to form what nowadays we know as Spain. So the Aragonese really dominated Naples but from the mid 1400s. The Bourbon dynasty, of French origin not Aragonese, didn't come to the Spanish throne until much later in the early 1700 after the Spanish Succession Wars where Naples was given to Austria as part of the peace settlement. The same Bourbon dynasty is continued today on the throne by today's Juan Carlos I. It's true that in 1743 Carlos III Bourbon, beforethe King of Spain, reconquered the kingdom for Spain when it was know as the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. This domination lasted until the reunification of Italy by Vittorio Emmanuele. But enough of this. Let's enjoy some unknown Southern Italian wines! Salute! Carlos Hey Tom!
Thanks again for illuminating us on this fascinating obscure varietals.
Just a historical correction. You mention “Further, Molise, which for a long time was contained within the greater orbit of Naples, which in turn had begun to be dominated by the Aragonese Bourbon dynasty in the early 1700s”. No argument with the first part of the sentence, but the second is a bit mixed up.
It’s true that Aragon dominated the Kingdom of Naples from 1453 before joining Castille to form what nowadays we know as Spain. So the Aragonese really dominated Naples but from the mid 1400s. The Bourbon dynasty, of French origin not Aragonese, didn’t come to the Spanish throne until much later in the early 1700 after the Spanish Succession Wars where Naples was given to Austria as part of the peace settlement. The same Bourbon dynasty is continued today on the throne by today’s Juan Carlos I. It’s true that in 1743 Carlos III Bourbon, beforethe King of Spain, reconquered the kingdom for Spain when it was know as the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. This domination lasted until the reunification of Italy by Vittorio Emmanuele.
But enough of this. Let’s enjoy some unknown Southern Italian wines!
Salute!
Carlos

]]> By: Nick G http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/09/21/tintilia-molises-native-son/comment-page-1/#comment-259861 Nick G Sat, 22 Sep 2007 17:11:28 +0000 http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/09/21/tintilia-molises-native-son/#comment-259861 I found Two. Wine library has one called "Cipressi Tintilia Macchiarossa", and the other (not at WL) is called "Tintilia" and produced by Agricola d'Uva Angelo. I haven't tried them. I found Two. Wine library has one called “Cipressi Tintilia Macchiarossa”, and the other (not at WL) is called “Tintilia” and produced by Agricola d’Uva Angelo. I haven’t tried them.

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