La Montañuela, "Lucho Red" 2019

"Camilla Carrillo first came across wine right after high school while working in a tasting room outside Burlington, Vermont. While the wine was mostly conventional, it inspired her to travel to Italy to work in an agriturisimo where her world was opened to the idea of farming and its impact on the land. From there, Camilla dove headfirst into the world of wine, working several harvests from Australia to Italy before settling in Vermont and working her way up to an assistant winegrower position with the now iconic La Garagista estate in Barnard, Vermont. La Garagista and its head winemaker/grower Deirdre Heekin has been an inspiration to many for their dedication to hybrid grape varieties and to biodynamic farming practices. Camilla is currently recuperating a small vineyard and purchasing organically farmed fruit from her neighbors. She cites her grandfather and his farm outside Caracas, Venezuela as the original “La Montañuela” and the inspiration behind this project. Her visits there as a young girl had a profound effect on her as it taught her how to get connected with nature. She was “inspired by his love of the land” which has led her on her own personal quest to “take care of the soil and of our planet.” Her first harvest for La Montañuela, (an imprint of La Garagista) was in 2018 and in 2019 her production grew to 35 cases (she is still fulltime with La Garagista). Camilla is looking forward to showcasing the potential and opportunity that hybrid grapes provide, especially in our ever changing world." (Jose Pastor)

100% St. Croix from Ellison Estate Vineyard in Grand Isle, Vermont. Clay and limestone soils. Vinified whole cluster for 9 days.

Named in honor of her Grandfather, nicknamed Lucho. Winemaker's notes: "A lush, elegant, deep red wine with a playful fruitiness and bright acidity. Pairs well with a candle-lit dinner and old records of Boleros."