Some of our favorite farm blogs: 

Tiny Farm

Sugar Mountain Farm 

Down on the Farm 

Nature’s Harmony 

Most people (and rightly so) think that traipsing around Italy hunting for wine is easy. It is definitely much easier than my former job as a chef. Undeniably, it is a breeze compared to the work of the people I am seeking- high quality farming. The long flights, the driving and the time away from my family are all bearable when things go smoothly. But the truth of current farming and winemaking practices mean that things rarely go smoothly. I met with an interesting, intelligent and genuinely nice guy. He and his family were more than hospitable. The vineyards were well cared for. The wines were very good.  We would be able to sell the wine at a good price. The labels are pretty. All of these factors together would make these wines a slam dunk for most importers. Sounds good, right? But, at the end of the day, I don’t feel comfortable putting a Farmstead seal on the bottle. Our selection criteria are really difficult to meet. In this case, they grow the grapes themselves (his father runs the farm), but they hire a consultant to make the wine. Although I might drink some myself, it does not qualify as a Farmstead Wine. It is not made by a vinaroon.

Many farmers, especially in the Old World, where delicious food and wine is simply a part of everyday life, favor quality over quantity. For example, artisan poultry farms would never use the antibiotic doping procedures of their factory counterparts. The reason is not just for tastier chicken, but for the health of their families. Although most people would “love to eat beef that receives massages all day,” they still regularly grab the feedlot variety from the supermarket. In this time of renewed focus on all things green and at the same time in a tighter economic environment, what is a conscientious person to do? The answer is an age-old practice still used today by many farmers we know. The problem of not being able to afford quality over commercial products is just part of everyday life, not a mere recessionary blip. Their solution is to buy in groups. People go in together for a whole pig, sacks of potatoes, and split cases of wine. Yes, this might require actually talking to your friends and neighbours, but food and wine are meant to be shared.