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Join the Italian Cultural Society in hosting Vinter Mark Henry from Montoliva Vineyard and Winery @ The Italian Center in Carmichael, to sample a wide range of his unique and exquisite Italian varietals. A plentiful variety of antipasti (appetizers) will be served, and no one will be heading home hungry. The event will consist of a tantalizing experience for your palate, while Mark delivers a sermon in enology, the history of his Chicago Park vineyard, and the story of Montoliva winery. Prepare yourself to sit back for a few hours with friends and family to truly enjoy some of the finer things in life. By the end we'll have you saying "a domani!" Nestled in a small valley in Chicago Park, overlooking rolling fields of grapes with a backdrop of the Sierra Foothills, sits Montoliva Winery. Boasting some of the most unique Southern and Central Italian varietals, the humble but mighty vineyards under Vintner Mark Henry’s care may seem out of place in the foothills of Northern California. You won’t find Chardonnay or Pinot grapes hanging from Montoliva’s vines, but what you will find are rarities such as Falanghina, Teroldego, Aleatico, Negroamaro, Vermentino, Dolcetto, Nero d’Avola, and many others. Originally settled in the late 1800s by Italian immigrants from Chicago, IL, who were searching for an escape from American urban life, Chicago Park, CA offered a return to something more closely resembling the country they had left behind. Unbeknownst to the founders, their new home shared nearly identical soil composition, elevation, and climate with many regions of Italy. In his own words, Mark explained to me how he stumbled upon Chicago Park—learning far more about geology than he ever intended in the process. From a purely technical perspective, it made perfect sense, but I still had one lingering question: Why such unique and specific Italian varietals? Born on a farm into the blue-collar logging community of Roseburg, Oregon in the 1950s, and grandson to a Baptist minister, Mark will be the first to tell you his upbringing was about as far from la dolce vita as one can imagine. Steeped in the Protestant work ethic and surrounded by roughneck lumberjacks, Mark enlisted in the United States Army at 17 and was shipped to Europe shortly after, where he encountered his first love: German beer. For years, Mark was deeply entrenched in the early days of the American craft beer industry. But when it came time to start a family of his own, his mind kept returning to his childhood on the farm in Roseburg. During this period, Mark traveled extensively through Italy, encountering a culture that stood in stark contrast to the Calvinist “live to work” tradition of his upbringing. Coming from a world where food and drink were little more than fuel for the workday, he was captivated by Italian culture, where food, wine, and their enjoyment with friends and family are venerated as essential daily rituals. Mark quickly fell in love—particularly with the Southern Italian idea of a domani, or simply, “it can wait until tomorrow.” It was this slowing down of life—the pause to savor the simple things, and the care taken in doing them well—that transformed once-overlooked aspects of daily living into sources of deep passion and pride. That love of Italian culture grew into both a life and livelihood for Mark, who made a home for himself and his children among the vines. True to his craft, the long, slow fermentation style of his wines mirrors his newfound tempo for life, taking time and care in all things. If and when you muster your tastebuds and visit Mark at Montoliva, you’ll find this to be true. While the craft and quality of his vintages speak for themselves, the act of slowing down and sitting on the patio overlooking the fields—as Mark engages you in an hours-long conversation spanning the technical details and science of the grapes in your glass, as well as the history of their Italian origins—creates an experience that is uniquely Italian. Mark’s love and passion for our culture is so palpable, it’s hard to believe he isn’t a native, and thus, he is a perfect example of Un Amico Della Cultura—a friend of the culture. For those interested in visiting Mark at Montoliva Winery in Chicago Park, you can learn more at: www.montoliva.com
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