Happy Birthday Stephy
As you receive Etto's email this week I will be celebrating a special birthday with the love of my life. Stephy is more than "the pasta queen" as she keeps everything at Etto on the tracks handling more than she should of our book work, opening and closing the market on occasion, taking out the trash like she did last Sunday and more, more, more. Running businesses with a spouse isn't always easy, but I've enjoyed this journey with her.
Eight or so years ago when I had the crazy brilliant idea to buy a pasta machine and create a little pasta market she was all in and totally supportive. There really was no reason for her to be so, we already had a business (Giornata WInery) that kept us very busy. Spending time in vineyards has always been her professional passion. Little did she know this little pasta machine would turn into more machines, a new factory building and even a restaurant. Along the way she became a pasta packer, bookkeeper, and restaurant server/busser jumping in wherever needed - all the time being a wonderful mother to our twin daughters.
I wanted to highlight all of this as she reaches a milestone birthday with many more to come (I'll let you ask her which one if you dare). Although, Etto has grown more than we imagined we still remain a community minded, family business with guest service at our core and Stephy is truly the heart of this.
Stephy and I try to divide and conquer as we navigate involvement with multiple businesses. Our winery, hard to believe, will celebrate our 20th harvest this Fall and Stephy will be out sampling the grapes and even picking many of them as she's done from day one. I give her the vast majority of the credit for what we've been able to accomplish with Giornata. Her attention and genius in the vineyard is at least 90% of what makes the wines what they are. We are proud not only of the press we receive, but how they recognize the value we are able to offer you. You can purchase our wine at Etto and also visit our Tin City winery seven days a week.
Here's our recent "report card" from Eric Guido from Vinous Media - one of the foremost authorities of Italian wines and a top critic. It's nice that he recognizes the value that we offer too:
"This is another stunning set of Italian-inspired wines from Giornata. I anticipated that the 2023 vintage would play right into their hands, and I’m happy to report that the wines are even better than I expected. It’s also important to note that Owners/Winemakers Brian and Stephanie Terrizzi insist on maintaining value in their portfolio. It’s great to see domestic wines of this quality selling in the $25-$40 range. Il Campo Rosso is a perfect example. This juicy blend of Sangiovese, Aglianico, Barbera and Nero d'Avola can be thought of as Giornata’s “everyday wine.” As of 2023, the Terrizzis added a Nero d’Avola to the lineup, matured entirely in neutral barrels. It’s an immediate success, showcasing a wealth of varietal character while capturing a hint of California sunshine in the bottle. I also got a sneak peek at the 2023 Nebbiolo—this is the first year that the new vineyard, planted in 2015, produced enough high-quality fruit to vinify. The 2023 Nebbiolo is a stunner, but it's still a year away from release. Giornata is also working to transition the estate vineyards to fully regenerative practices. Also of note, readers traveling to Paso Robles should check out Etto, the Terrizzis’ restaurant in Tin City. It’s a cozy spot that serves unassuming, traditional Italian fare at reasonable prices."
Scores by Eric Guido
2023 Fiano 93 Points
2023 Aglianico 93 Points
2023 Il Campo Rosso 91 Points
2023 Montepulciano 92 Points
2023 Nero d'Avola 93 Points
2022 Gemellaia 95 Points
2022 Sangiovese 94 Points
2024 Orangotango 92 Points
More info HERE
Scores by Eric Guido
2023 Fiano 93 Points
2023 Aglianico 93 Points
2023 Il Campo Rosso 91 Points
2023 Montepulciano 92 Points
2023 Nero d'Avola 93 Points
2022 Gemellaia 95 Points
2022 Sangiovese 94 Points
2024 Orangotango 92 Points
More info HERE
