As part of the 2014 Digitul Wine Communications Conference in Montreux, Switzerland, I explored the wines of Ticino during a post-conference press trip. This posting – Agriloro SA in Ticino, Switzerland: Dinner with Owner Meinrad Perler and Winery Tour - is the ninth in a series of postings (see below) emanating from my visit of Ticino.
See also:
Exploring the Wines of Ticino in Ticino, the Italian Speaking Part of Switzerland
Touring (and Tasting the Wines of) Brivio Vini SA and Gialdi Vini SA in Mendrisio, Ticono, with Guido Brivio, Switzerland
Polenta and Ticino Wine at Grotto Bundi in Ticino, Switzerland
Visiting Cantina Kopp von der Crone Visini and Tasting with Barbara von der Crone and Paolo Visini in Barbengo, Ticino, Switzerland
Visiting (and Tasting the Wines of) Tamborini SA and Lunch with Valentina Tamborini, Ticino, Switzerland
Touring and Tasting the Wines of Vini e Distillati Angelo Delea SA, with David Delea, Switzerland
Visiting Azienda Mondo in Ticini, Switzerland
Visit of (and Wine Tasting at) Vinattieri Ticinesi, Ticino, Switzerland
Agriloro SA in Ticino, Switzerland: Dinner with Owner Meinrad Perler and Winery Tour
Lunch at Ristorante Montalbano in Stabio, Switzerland
We met Meinrad Perler, the owner of Agriloro SA, twice during the tour. First, we had dinner with him, where we had a chance to taste his wines and talk with him about his wines, and second, during a quick stop at Agriloro SA, where Meinrad Perler showed us his new, impressive winemaking facility
Agriloro SA
Meinrad Perler is the son of a farmer in western, French-speaking Switzerland who initially went into banking, after having studied economics in London in the UK. When that career soured, he turned to his passion, winemaking, settling in Mendrisio. “It’s not the ideal location, too much rain in the wrong seasons, and hot, dry summers,” Meinrad Perler said. Still, the climate has not prevented him, in his late 70s now, from creating a world class winery with an annual production of 210,000 bottles a year and becoming Switzerland’s Winemaker of the Year in 2010.
Meinrad Perler’s wine journey started about 35 years ago, in 1981, when he bought Tenimento dell’Ör. Initially, all the grapes were sold to the co-operative. In 1994, Agriloro SA started to bottle (12.000 bottles).
Agriloro SA grows more than 2 dozens of different grape varieties. 3/4 are red grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdon, Pinot Noir and Syrah) and 1/4 white grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Chasselas, Petite Arvine, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc.
Agriolo SA comprises 2 estates, the Tenimento dell’Ör in Arzo and the Tenimento la Prella in Genestrerio, totaling 22 hectares. Agrilor SA produces single variety varieties wines as well as cuvees, made in stainless steel and barrique. The Sotto Bosco, for example, is blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamaret and Cabernet Franc. The Casimiro also contains exotic grape varieties like Marselan, Arinarnoa and Carmenere. The white wines too are made either in stainless steel or barrique and are single variety wines and assemblages. Overall, 1/3 of the wines are made in stainless steel and 2/3 in barrique.
In terms of sales, 20% goes to restaurants, 40% to retail and 40% is sold directly to consumers. About half od the visitors of the winery are from the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
Dinner with Meinrad Perler
Meinrad Perler invited us for dinner at Albergo Svizzero, where we had a wonderful evening with his outstanding wines.
The Food of Chef Maurizio De Pedro
Albergo Svizzero: The love and passion for the restaurant industry that Renato Bordogna, who has been for over 30 years in charge of the Albergo Svizzero, offers customers, makes the restaurant a point of reference for gourmets. The choice is wide, based on quality and freshness of wholesome seasonal ingredients. Our young chef, Maurizio De Pedro, offers our customers his experience gained working for Gualtiero Marchesi and in famous Italian “Michelin star” restaurants.
The Agriloro SA Wines
The Agriloro SA Wines we had at the Dinner.
2011 Cardonnay Tenimento dell’Ör
2012 Granito Tenimento dell’Ör - 40% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Blanc, 10% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Pinot Gris
2011 Casimiro - IGT, Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Arinarnoa, Petit Verdot, Gamaret, Tannat, Marselan, Egiodola, Carmenere, maceration for about 20 days, aging for over 2 years in barrique, 50% new and 50% used
2007 Merlot Riserva Tenimento dell’Ör - Ticino DOC, 100% Merlot, long maceration in oak vats, aging in new oak barrels for 24 months
2011 Merlot Riserva Tenimento la Prella- Ticino DOC, 100% Merlot, 20 months in barrique
2009 Sottobosco
2008 Sottobosco - Red Ticino DOC, Merlot 75%, Cabernet Sauvignon 17%, 7% Gamaret, Carminoir 1%, the grapes come from the vineyards of the Tenimento dell’Ör in Arzo and of the Tenimento la Prella in Genestrerio., the grapes are vinified separately, maceration over 20 days in wood, aging for about 2 years in barriques of which 60% new and 40% second passage
2007 Syrah -Ticino DOC, 20 months in barrique
Agriloro SA Tour
We toured the impressive new winemaking facility of Agriloro SA on the following day.
Bye-bye
Thanks Meinrad Perler for hosting us.
schiller-wine: Related Posting
4 Wine Tours by ombiasy coming up in 2015: Germany-East, Germany-South. Germany-Nord and Bordeaux
Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy, 2014
Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy, 2014
Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy
The 2014 Digital Wine Communications Conference (DWCC) in Switzerland
The Wines of Weingut Saxer, a Winemaker in the German-speaking part of Switzerland
The Wines of Switzerland – Grand Tasting with (and Introduction to Swiss Wines by) Jancis Robinson and José Vouillamoz
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