It’s in the Soil

S1 E1: We travel to Northern Central Italy, exploring Cantina del Castello in Soave. Here, we learn about Carniga Classico, single vineyards, and rugged volcanic soils. Michael discovers a secret passageway that leads to a private reserve, where he falls in love with a bottle of 1960 vintage. At Cantina del Castello Charlie surprises Michael with two white selections: a sweet white vs. a dry Carnigo Classico. After getting lost in one of Italy’s many roundabouts, Michael and Charlie finally manage to find their way to La Collina dei Cilliegi, near Verona. We learn about Methodo Classico, a bottling process similar to creating Champagne, and dine on delicious beetroot Risotto and gorgonzola cheese sauce paired with Ripasso wine. During negotiations, Michael is accused of offering a “Crazy price,” while a new wealthy wine owner’s dignity hangs on the balance of striking the right deal.