1998 Azienda Agraria de Juliis Montepulciano d'Abruzzo "Casanova"

[Botafogo]

Rad, we had a really interesting debate with the standista (girl working the booth) of this winery at this year's VinItaly:

She was going on and on about how they were the only producer of organic wines in Abruzzo and we stopped her and asked her about Emidio Pepe (the most traditional and natural winery in the WORLD as far as we can tell) and her response was "he SAYS he is organic but he is not certified, so how can you believe him?"

WELL, she had obviously never been in the same room with Emidio who was probably the Roman god of Integrity and Trust in a previous incarnation (and is also an imposing figure physically and I would not want him to respond to such an accusation with fists!). But, she was young so we humored her. I asked her, "I think you are very pretty and I bet you do too but has anyone CERTIFIED that fact?". That got a laugh and she actually threatened to show us her "stamp of approval" under her blouse but said it "would not be proper here". This led to a discussion of the conflict between the inherant anarchism / individuality of Italians vs any Government or other sanctioning authority who would need to inspect them and, ultimately, I told her "You know, this was the reason Martin Luther nailed his renunciation of the Pope on the church door....he didn't need a middle man with God".

WELL, that got her so addled that she agreed that "I have never thought about this this way before....I will have to go and visit the Pepe winery....ya da ya da"

We ultimately did not buy the wines because they were expensive for what they were but it was fun (and she was REALLY cute!).

Roberto