Mitolo

The Mitolo family brings together two renowned wine nations to unite the best of both: Australian terroir and Italian traditions. Together with Ben Glaetzer they launched a new brand that has now become a name in the Australian wine world.

A piece of Italy in Australia - Mitolo

The Mitolo family, originally Italian immigrants from Abruzzo, began winegrowing in Australia in the 1950s. What started out as just a hobby they brought with them from their homeland changed abruptly when the well-known Australian winemaker Ben Glaetzer, a friend of the family, helped the Mitolos turn the family drink into a wine of true greatness.

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

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

In 2000 the G.A.M. Shiraz was released – named after Frank’s children Gemma, Alex and Marco.

Is this really Australia?

The Mitolos do not cultivate the vineyards themselves but source their grapes from the Lopresti family, also Italian immigrants. With a fine feel for McLaren Vale they produce fruit of the highest quality, which is indispensable for the standards of the Mitolo wines. With its hills and fertile soils, this region is not unlike the Mediterranean.

Deep clay soils are contrasted by the fresh sea air, so that the powerful, complex flavour is nonetheless accompanied by a freshness that takes away the heaviness of the wine. At the end of summer, shortly before harvest, the soils dry out, giving the grapes a concentrated aroma as the vine tries to economise on water. The Loprestis also cultivate Italian grape varieties whose wines stand out as little jewels in the Mitolos’ portfolio.

A successful friendship – Mitolo and Glaetzer

The cellar is permeated by Ben Glaetzer’s influence. According to his philosophy, the wine should develop by itself without too much human intervention; fermentation takes place at cool temperatures. Barrels from different producers are used to have the optimal vessel available for the maturation of each wine.

Ben Glaetzer attaches great importance to the vinification of individual sites, a view that Frank Mitolo shares and that originally brought the two winemakers together.