A little wine, a little art, a little nap.

June 08, 2011|(Display Name not set), Globe Staff

In 1991 Antonella Tacci and Raimondo Lombardi left corporate jobs in Milan to make wine fifty miles south in the commune of Rovescala. The little town has barely 1000 inhabitants, but more than 150 farms and a reasonable claim to be the birthplace of the bonarda grape. At their winery, Azienda Agricola Martilde, bonarda gets special attention - though in fact the varietal grown in the region( Oltrepo Pavese) isn't bonarda at all but croatina. They also work with barbera, uva rara, pinot noir, malvasia and riesling italico. Vineyards are farmed conscientiously and the wines themselves are appealingly original (not to say quirky) in style.

The winery's offerings are easy to spot in any wine shop because the labels are truly one-of-a-kind, featuring scenes from the couple's obviously interesting domestic life (that's Raimondo dozing on the label of the property's barrique-aged Ghiro Rosso d’Inverno above left), including their many pets.

The beautiful labels are all Antonella's original work, and this weekend you can meet the the couple, taste their wines, and ogle (even buy, if you're so inclined) 20 original pieces of Antonella's art. It's all happening Saturday at the Harvard General Store in Harvard, Massachusetts from 4-7 p.m.

File under: Vaut le voyage.

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