Mitolo

The Mitolo family brings together two well-known wine nations to combine the best of them: Australian terroir and Italian traditions. Together with Ben Glaetzer, they launched a new brand that is now a name in the Australian wine world.

A piece of Italy in Australia - Mitolo

The Mitolo family , originally Italian immigrants from Abruzzo, started growing grapes in Australia in the 1950s. While it was originally just a hobby they brought with them from home, this changed abruptly when renowned Australian winemaker Ben Glaetzer, a family friend, helped the Mitolos turn the family drink into a wine of true greatness.

In 1999, Frank Mitolo and Ben Glaetzer sat down for over 5 hours and discussed the basics of the wine they wanted to create, jotting down the results on a napkin:

• Individuality
• Integrity
• Quality
• Purity
• Elegance
• Power

Then, in 2000, the G.A.M. Shiraz appeared - named after Frank's children Gemma, Alex and Marco.

Is this really Australia?

The Mitolos do not do the growing themselves, but obtain their grapes from the Lopresti family, also Italian immigrants. With a good sense of the McLaren Vale, they produce harvest material of the best quality, which is essential for the claim of Mitolo wines. This region is not unlike the Mediterraneum with its hills and fertile soils.

Deep clay soils are contrasted by the fresh sea air, so that the strong, complex flavor is nevertheless accompanied by a freshness that takes away the wine's heaviness. At the end of summer, just before harvest, the soils dry out, giving the grapes a concentrated flavor as the plant tries to manage water. The Loprestis also grow Italian grape varieties whose wines stand out as little jewels in the Mitolos ' portfolio.

A successful friendship - Mitolo and Glaetzer

The cellar is imbued with Ben Glaetzer's influence. According to his philosophy, the wine should develop itself without too much human influence, and fermentation takes place in a cool environment. Barrels from different manufacturers are used in order to have the optimal vessel available for aging for each wine.

Ben Glaetzer attaches great importance to the vinification of individual sites, a view shared by Frank Mitolo, which once brought the two winemakers together.