I was commissioned by Walter Speller to go to Tuscany and photograph the vineyards and wine harvest for Italian wine company La Porta Di Vertine. I met some wonderful people and made some good friends on this trip – Tuscany is truly spectacular and inspires the mind and warms the soul. The stars at night are magnificent, the sun throughout the day is glorious, and there’s something about the light that makes it just that little bit special. I was in Vertine, just outside Gaiole in Chianti staying with wine guru Giacomo Mastretta. Giacomo not only cooks a mean pasta dish but also knows the land like the back of his hand – he was my guide during my stay. I was there shooting in Feburary 2009, June 2009 and October 2009, each time for around 4 or 5 days – during this time I captured the vineyards at dawn, dusk, in bloom and being harvested. The soil in Chianti is unique – Galestro and Alberese soils have high rock and stone content (shale and limestone) allowing the sun to heat them during the day and keep the soil warm during the night.
My photography has been used on their website, their brochures, and promotional materials and literature, on huge posters in their wonderful wine tasting cellar, and published in Tuscany Magazine, sold in Italy.
I want to say a huge thank you to Dan, Ellen, Walter, Giacomo, Paolo, David and of course, Iris! I really enjoyed working on this project and hope to see you all again soon.
View Simon’s photography porfolio at www.siwaller.com
© all rights reserved, Simon Christopher 2010
Published on Feb 21, 2010
Filed under: Photography
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