We met Michele on the final day of a week-long jag through the Tuscan Maremma, a mountains meets the sea region near the city of Grosseto, on the Mediterranean. Just north of the city one finds the village of Massa Maritima, and the lovely Parco Naturale di Montoni. The important trade here is the raising of cattle. Otherwise, one might spot olive groves or other cash crops, and maybe some grazing horses. There appears to be very little wine made here, with the region more of a crossroads between Umbria and Tuscany, and the more popular zones of Montalcino about an hour or so inland.

Yet growing grapes is exactly what Michele Ranieri is doing, along with his father, in this lesser known part of Italy. The attraction for me of course, is Michele's size (his business size, not his frame). I've been talking about the little guy for years, you know? I'm totally interested in what most importers are not--small productions, farm smallholdings, permaculture, all that jazz. And also, hyper-local. Michele delivers on all those things.

We met with him for the first time in May 2022. He had a small table set up just outisde his house and winery, with good quality glasses. He sat down with us, tattooed arms, 5'oclock shadow, and nearly perfect English and talked about his project, his life, his family, and his wines with an almost poetic pace. Three of us sat there listening to our questions answered with precision and prose. Who the hell is this guy??

We're the first to bring Michele's wines to the US, and in fact, one of his first sales outside of Italy. Granted, this is reasonably new business, with Michele quitting the Milan rat race as a graphic designer and returning to his boyhood home to start a family and join his father in the vineyards. He is busy each year making 1500 bottles of this and 2000 of that. I instantly liked him, and was sold even further when he presented some cheese (from the lady down the street), and good salami (from the guy that lives just over the ridge) to go along. I can't recall more thoroughly enjoying a first visit with a winery in a very long time.