Mt. Felix

And like fine wine, we are influenced by our own environments and the seasons of our lives. I was introduced to wine by my grandfathers. My paternal Grandfather Louie would call his wine "Grandpa's milk". My earliest childhood memories of him cause me to cherish how he would pour both of us a glass of what he called "Grandpa's milk"; albeit mine was water with a splash of wine. I would sit on his lap and drink with him and enjoy his lust for life and humor. My maternal Grandfather Giulio would tell stories of how he would make his own wine from his family vines in Italy. He would recall those days and have one believe that no more enjoyable vintage had ever been produced.

Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends...each and every get together was always a holiday no matter what the calendar said!!! Each meal and family occasion, was seasoned with a glass, or two. Holidays were extra special. I look fondly at the passionate debates filled with laughter between my grandfather, father and uncle over what tasted better, Grandpa's jug wine or Uncle's vintage Barolo.

The French word "terroir" encompasses all of those "things" that combine to influence what we sow from the earth. I now understand that like a fine wine, a family is blessed with "terroir" as well. For wine, the character, substance, and quality are created by terroir, which in essence means the combined factors of air, soil, wind, rain, etc., that each uniquely influence its substance. "Terroir" is the "placeness" of all those things that combine to influence what we harvest and yield from earth. One bottle of wine has more then 250 variables. The tapestry of these elements must be woven together to produce great quality.

Mount Felix's terroir is special. The soils are fertile, well drained with balance between organic content, texture, and mineral/chemical composition. The perimeter is open and free affording wonderful air-flow from a constant Chesapeake Bay breeze that will quickly dry the morning dew from our berries.

Our Southeasterly oriented slopes provide long hours of light exposure inclusive of rays reflected off the vast Chesapeake Bay. This optimizes photosynthesis; thereby, converting the sun's rays into sugar and juice stores within the grapes. Aided by our terroir, complimented by long sunny days, cool autumn nights, and a constant Chesapeake breeze, we simply seek to convert these sweet juices... produced from rays... into bottles of wine ...for life, love, family, and friends.

From our family to yours,

A Salute',

Peter J Ianniello