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In this issue, we introduce a gem of a red wine called Grandama,
which means “great woman.” Grandama, which is also the title of our
special exhibition, associated with and named after our MIHO MUSEUM
founder Mihoko Koyama, who holds the key to the creation of this
wine and who was the visionary behind Shumei natural farming.
Sacrafamilia an Italian winery outside of Milan, is run by
older brother Giorgio, sister Anna, and her husband Domenico Capeto.
Some thirty years ago, their father created Italy’s first organic
winery. However, he was up against a situation in which agricultural
chemicals and fertilizers that were not good for both the wine and
our bodies were being recognized as organic and chemicals and
additives were being used in the fermentation process of the grape
juice and bottling. His children decided to establish a new winery
and changed to making wine according to a biotic farming method,
which is based on love, sincerity, faith, and a spirit that respects
nature. |
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Love is poured into their wine making as if they were raising
children—the three carried out fertilizer-free, organic grape
cultivation, handpicked harvesting, and natural fermentation and
bottling. The only difference with the Shumei farming method was the
use of fine natural sulfur powder as a countermeasure against mold.
Then, one day, Giorgio heard about Shumei Natural Farming. He said
that he had his misgivings about a farming method in which sulfur
was not used. He asked, “What happens if there is a serious outbreak
of mold and the grapes are completely destroyed?” The answer was
“Even so, we do nothing.”
Our supervisor explained to an amazed Giorgio about having
confidence in the natural power of the sun, good and pure soil,
and the plants. Finally, Giorgia decided to give Shumei Natural
Farming a try. Although the vineyard seemed to have made a good
start, that year they had a record long spell of rain and an
outbreak of mold and disease. The harvest was 3% of an average
year and only 100 bottles were produced. However, the flavor of
the wine was extremely smooth. Shumei, in partnership with
Sacrafamilia, decided to study this wine at a Swiss laboratory. It
was found that the microphotographs of the wine formed beautiful
crystallization patterns and its life energy scored 9 out of a
perfect ten, an unbelievable number. One transformation due to the
implementation of the Shumei natural farming method was that this
wine reached an ever higher level.
Sacrafamilia explains that as the vineyard enters its fifth
year this year, the energy within the grapes themselves have
increased annually as revealed by the flavor of the wine.
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Grapes in August 2011 |
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©Vision lab |
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©Vision lab
Crystallization photographs (above two) of 2008 GRANDAMA based on
SAT method (Swiss crystalization analysis)
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