Piano Piano

‘Piano piano’ means ‘slowly slowly’ in Italian, and this is how Marc Scalzo and wife Lisa Hernan have approached the development of their business. Marc has a degree in oenology from CSU, many years’ practical experience as a winemaker with Brown Brothers and vintage experience with Giaconda, John Gehrig and in NZ with Seresin Estate and Delegat’s. In 1997 they planted 2.6ha of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, tempranillo and touriga nacional on their Brangie Vineyard in the King Valley; they followed up with 1.2ha of chardonnay (’06) and 0.8ha of shiraz (’08) on their Beechworth property. -JAMES HALLIDAY