It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the passing of our dearest friend and colleague, Peter Cervi, who succumbed to heart failure on Monday, March 10th.  Peter was a great lover of life, a passionate volunteer and a warm and genuine friend to many.  He thrived on his work with us and truly enjoyed engaging with our customers.  He often said he would work here for free if we couldn't keep him on.  Peter will be remembered as a great lover of humanity who had time and interest for all.  Our loss is beyond words.  

So-called natural wines are getting more attention lately as consumers pursue products deemed to be healthier and more authentic. Natural wines are wines made by people who approach their craft with a minimalist philosophy, both in the vineyard and in the winery. The grapes are grown organically, meaning that they are not sprayed with pesticides or herbicides.  They may also be grown bio-dynamically which, in addition to no pesticides, involves enhancing the soil with certain organic preparations. It also includes processes and timelines for enriching the soil, planting, pruning, and harvesting based on the phases of the moon and astrological signs.  

In the winery, natural wines are made with minimal intervention.  Grapes are hand-picked and hand de-stemmed. Only naturally occurring yeasts are used for fermentation, and mechanical processes in the wine making are avoided.  Since filtration is rare, there may be a cloudiness to the wine that is harmless.  Sulfites are not added and nothing extraneous is added to the juice.  Therefore, natural wines are said to be the purest expression of the fruit, the most authentic product of the vineyard.