Meza Wine Club / August 2026
Discovery Red / White
Wine 1: Crotin Barbera d’Asti
The name Crotin 1897 refers to all the years Daniela’s land has been in her family. She met her Calabrian husband in veterinary school--they both practice natural medicine for animals--and their three boys grew up in Calabria, by the sea. Going back home to make organic wine from the native grapes of Piemonte has been a family affair. Now grown, the three Russo brothers, Federico, Marcello and Corrado, work together, managing the vineyards, the cellar, and the B&B in their charming family home. Besides touring the small cantina, visitors to the estate can walk through Daniela’s large vegetable garden, meet Federico’s award-winning hunting dogs, and observe the neighbor’s small flock of sheep ambling home in the waning daylight. Tucked away in the rolling Monferrato hills, near the village of Maretto, Crotin is a testament to the Asti region’s rustic mix of vineyards, forests and farms. “Rustic” isn’t the right word for Crotin’s wines, however, not with winemaking of such consistent high quality that the monovarietal bottles sing with varietal typicity. The family’s devotion to the indigenous varieties of the region is clear, as new projects work to rescue grapes that have nearly died out. Each vineyard possesses a unique, fascinating geological profile, and each of these honest wines has an exceptional value.
Crotin translates to “little cellar” in Piemonte dialect.
100% Barbera - Ruby red color with violet reflections. The nose manifests intense and complex fruity aromas of cherry, raspberry, blackberry and black cherry, followed by dried purple flowers and notes of licorice. On the palate it is full bodied and fresh.
Wine 2: La Staffa Verdicchio
Ian d'Agata, in his wonderful book about Italian grapes*, says that Verdicchio is 'arguably Italy's greatest native white grape variety…’ I love Verdicchio, and I drink a lot of it. The bright, distinctive, intense Verdicchio di Matelica from Colle Stefano has been a staple of our selection for ages. Until recently I hadn’t found a Verdicchio in the neighboring Castelli di Jesi appellation that was quite as interesting. But just to see if there were exceptions, I tasted through a slew of Jesi bottlings at Vinitaly, and the wine from an estate called La Staffa stuck out: it was vibrant, direct, very flavorful, complex and delicious. La Staffa's young owner and enologist Riccardo Baldi was sharing a booth not far away, and I tasted through his whole line of wines, impressed by them and by his youthful enthusiasm (Riccardo was 24 at the time, and had already made 5 vintages). A week later, a visit to the vineyards and winery in the beautiful rolling hills outside the little town of Staffolo was equally impressive. The estate is at relatively high elevation, which explains the freshness of the wines.
La Staffa’s ‘Rincrocca’ is a selection of old Verdicchio vines. The site is planted with 5 different clones of Verdicchio, 2 of these clones are not available in the market anymore. Notes of almond, citrus, green apple, and herbs, with fresh acidity and a long finish. Delicious as a dry aperitif, or drink with most any seafood dish or roast chicken.
Love your previous wines and want more? Re ordering is easy on our wine club re order tab!