5 stars here--are you kidding me? he's definitely a guy you'd like and want to have bruschetta and brunello with. and his story is charming but be realistic. this book is written in a very simplistic way and the beauty of tuscany cannot be captured with this "prose". and details, details, details....somehow he has the finances to restore this vineyard while apparently not working and still having his son in a private school in Rome, hours away? c'mon. you've lost most of the details and have settled for a lot of the embellishments. kudos to ferenc for his superb achievements and i did enjoy reading it but at the 2 star level. it was not a wasted effort but it was mediocre mostly due to the storytelling. frances mayes story of the agonies and ecstasies of her tuscan adventure was an infinitely better read---detail and prose wise. it's a fun read. it is not a 5 star read. no way.

In wine there is truth, or at least in this case, wisdom and a beautifully written book. I have been a fan of Mr. Mate's writing for many years and this book does not disappoint. Written in a similar style to The Hills of Tuscany, Mr. Mate brings the reader along on his quest to restore a dilapidated friary and establish a vineyard of his own. Equal parts insight, humor (the tractor driving experiment) and adventure; Mr. Mate has once again blended a perfect read.

I read the "criticisms" on this board and do not share them. This was not intended as a treatise on vine growing and wine making but a deeply personal account of one family's quest for achieving a dream -- told with wonderful writing style, transporting the reader into the magical and unique world of discovery, illumination, and appreciation of one of God's gifts -- Tuscany. Try to imagine yourself getting "tips" from Gaja; rubbing elbows in the rich soil of this region with the Conterno's and Banfi's; re-discovering the special beauties that the Etruscans built and the centuries hid from plain sight. This book is not a "how-to" dissertation; rather, it is a nearly mystical rendition of unearthing (literally) a treasure nearly lost to us, and a saga full of fun. Talk about being "transported"; Mr. Mate takes the reader on a "magical mystery tour" of his and his family's sheer delight -- and terribly hard work -- in bringing back to life a thoroughly delicious slice of creation -- God's and man's. Even if you're one who puts ice cubes in your Syrah, don't pass this up.

Based on the other reviews, I had high hopes for this book; I expected a more thorough story of his experience starting his own vineyard, people he had interacted with and the "terrior" of his vineyard embedded with light-hearted anecdotes. Instead, I found the details lacking. Little time is spent on the characters who appeared in the book, the restoration of the estate, planting and cultivating of the vineyard, wine-making decisions, and his (and his family's) tie to the place. The fact that this book is written in many short chapters averaging less than 10 pages each should have been the first sign. I do not doubt that Mr. Mate will be an interesting guy to have a drink with, and I am sure that he has many interesting stories to tell. But after reading this book, I get a feeling that this is a tale of a wealthy individual (despite his repetitive mentioning of being/getting poor as a result of this endeavor) who spent his way to have people make great wines from a land he has purchased. While this statement may not do him justice, and perhaps that is what this book is meant to be, but more on the people, more on the place, more on his (or the wine maker/consultant's) philosophy of how to cultivate the land and make a great wine will greatly improve the book.

A Vinyard in Tuscany by Ferenc Mate is the second in a series on life in Tuscany. In a genre loosely known as expats move to Tuscany, Mate is truly in a class by himself. If Frances Mayes is the standard ,then Ferenc Mate far excells her in poetry , lyrical description , humor and sensitivity. If after reading this book, you don't want his life then you better check your pulse. A love song to Tuscany and the art of wine, makes Frances Mayes akin to watching paint dry. Read The Hills of Tuscany as well which he wrote about first moving there 20 years ago.

Ferenc Mate's second book on Italy (buy the first one "Hills of Tuscany" also, they are distinctly a matched set to be enjoyed one after the other) is, if possible, even better than the first one. He had a wonderful understanding of Italian culture and is able to convey that to his reader. If you have ever visited Italy, or are planning to, then his books are a must read. One of the things I really like about Mr. Mate's writing is it is appealing to both men and women. I love being able to discuss a book with my husband. In fact with this one, it is the first time I have heard my husband laugh out loud while reading. At first I thought he was choking and when I ran into the room he said "honey, it's the part where he is driving the tractor". Michael and I spend two weeks in Tuscany every May and truly, in this book, the essence of the Montalcino area is captured and wrapped up like a Christmas present for the reader.

Out of all the book I have read on Italy, A Vineyard in Tuscany is the funniest and at the same time the most informing book about life in this southern part of Tuscany. Ma`te` has a great ways with words and offers a rare glimpse into secret world of Italian Culture. Other reviewers have summarized the book; I will not do that now. Instead I will speak of how the book affected me. Just the mere thought of the word "Bulls eye" puts a broad smile on my face. When I first read the passage where it's located, I laughed so loudly my wife rushed into the room to see if I were ok. Ma'te' lets us see the dry subtle humor of the people in this area. Although it does a great job of showing the warmth and passion of Tuscans when it comes to food, wine and business, the region itself is the star of book.
On our first trip to Italy 5 years ago, my wife and I did the usual Milan, Venice, Rome triangle with one day in Tuscany kind of trip. By luck we had chosen the Banfi Castle to dine in and stayed in the near-by hill town of Montalcino for just one night. My wife and I concluded that this 24 hour period was the best of the entire trip. Every year since then we have returned to the tiny village of San Angelo Scolo for days of relaxation, great hospitality, food, wine and the beautiful land of Tuscany. Little did we know that Ma`te` had restored his estate, planted a vineyard and discovered ancient cities and springs just minutes away. Tuscany is that kind of place where adventure and surprises lurk around every turn. Reading his book brought back fantastic experiences of our trips there. We will be back to San Angelo Scolo in 37 days, after reading this book I wish I were there now. I highly recommend it to people who are dreaming of a trip to Tuscany or experienced travelers.

Mr. Mate's charming and funny story of realizing his dream to own a vineyard in Tuscany is not to be missed, and is even better than his earlier book, The Hills of Tuscany. Mr. Mate's humor, warmth and friendliness come shining through in his wonderful tales of his Italian friends and neighbors, the Italian way of life, and his exploits renovating an ancient friary and developing an award-winning winery in the beautiful town of Montalcino.

My husband and I go to Italy every summer. In between we plan the next trip - and live vicariously through books about Italy. Which is what made A Vineyard In Tuscany such a wonderful read. Mr. Mate's writing style has a wonderful sense of fun while describing so vividly the people and the place. I had to pace myself to not get through the book too quickly. And once I finished, I felt a bit lost at having to say goodbye to Italy...again.

If you intend to go to Tuscany or have gone, definitely grab this book.

This book is a joy to read. It makes life in Tuscany vivid and appealing, and introduces you to two delightful people and their family---Ferenc and Candace Mate. Their adventures and misadventures in finding and then remodeling a house and then creating a vineyard with the help of some fascinating experts is always interesting and frequently hilarious.If you ever think of exploring Tuscany this book will give you the final push.
Highly recommended.

This book will transport you to the Tusacn hills. If you are a travel book reader, you will love this book. You can almost hear the stone being cut while the house is being restored. The details about the wine are magnificant. I rushed to his web site to order his wine, so lovingly created! Mr. Mate paints a beautiful picture of life in the Italian hills.

"Muscular prose . . . like Paul Bunyan on a Tuscan holiday . . . cool, robust, determined. Mate has created a wine in his own image."--The New Yorker

"Readers share a feeling of accomplishment and pride when their Syrah is one of the great Italian reds by Morrell's."--The New York Times Book Review

"Rare among expat memoirists: Mate writes well, he's funny and he makes serious wine, consistently scoring in the low 90s."--Wine Spectator

My husband and I along with a another couple (whom we share the love of wine with) are planning our first trip to Italy in June. We are staying in the Tuscany region and in my quest to read as much as I can I came across this book. I am not the greatest at putting into words my feeling but I will say that this is an awesome book. I have enjoyed every moment of reading it. I have felt the pain and the joy of the journey that Ferenc and Candace have taken. What amazing people and what a fun book, the humor is to much... Ferenc has away of laughing at himself and you are right there with him. I carry this book with me everyday and dream of being there... I have never been so excited to visit a place in my life and I thank Ferenc and Candace for helping with my journey. Read this book if you have a love of Italy or you are just one of us with the dream of living there and owning a winery... ciao ciao

A Vineyard in Tuscany is a true story about how a man and his wife bought and restored an old villa in Tuscany. You'll immediately fall in love with them, their adorable son, and their wonderful neighbors. The story tells of their search, the restoration and their vineyards....trust me, you will have a much deeper appreciation of wine! The author writes with a wonderful sense of humor, making you feel you are right in the midst of what is happening. And, lastly, you can't help but appreciate the "Italian style of life" and the workmen. An incredible read. Click on Amazon.com NOW and buy it. We've decided to order more and give them as Christmas gifts!

Double your pleasure. Spend a few hours spending a few years with the Mate' family as they pursue their dream(s). They are just the kind of people that you would like to linger with over a glass of Tuscan red - maybe the Brunello di Montalcino that they produce - while Fenerc recalls his wonderful tales of how they found, restored and developed their winery. Then, you can order the wines that they produce off their website, if you cannot find them in your local store. If you cannot make it to Montalcino tis year, it is the next best thing.

We were thoroughly enchanted with this delightful book. The descriptions of Tuscany were vivid and brought back terrific memories. Ferenc and Candace have made it all come to life again with their myriad adventures that turned into their unbelievable vineyard and home. A must read for all lovers of Tuscany. Our entire wine group will be reading it soon and tasting their wine! Thanks to the Mates!
myost3@cox.net

This book is inspiring. It makes you want to go out and chase that elusive and audacious dream--the dream the rationale part of your brain says will never fly. What Ferenc and his wife Candace did (creating a winery from scratch in the heart of Italian wine country!) was incredibly gutsy...and just plain crazy! But they made it work, producing highly rated wines, and had a hell of a good time while they were at it. I loved the book so much I ordered some bottles directly from the Mate's web site. I received lovely replies from both Mates. These are real people, working a real vineyard (and not some factory-run mockery of a winery). I'd love to shake their grape and soil stained hands. And now I'm going to go tell my wife about that dream I have of...

Another funny and fascinating book by Mr. Mate, whom I've had the pleasure of meeting at a book-signing. I found him to be just as charming and personable as you expect after reading the book. I loved The Hills of Tuscany, an earlier work, and was not disappointed by this next chapter in his Tuscan life--pursuing his dream to create a vineyard with noteworthy wine, which, happily, I got the opportunity to taste (and can be ordered on-line). Mr. Mate's warmth and friendliness to his Italian neighbors and his commitment to his dream were key to the successful restoration of a castle ruin in Montalcino and the development of a small, but world-class vineyard from scratch--no small feat. The story is told with such unassuming and spontaneous wit one only wishes to have been there throughout the process toiling and laughing along side these fascinating characters. The vignette about his battle with the Fiat tractor is side-splitting. A wonderful read and highly recommended.

Ferenc Mate is a master storyteller - I thoroughly enjoyed his book "A Vineyard in Tuscany: A Winelover's Dream". I have read many books on Tuscany, both before and after my recent trip there and this is at the top of my list. He not only tells about finding his dream home in Tuscany - a former monastery - but of the care in rebuilding it correctly - along with the joys/hard work of establishing a vineyard. There are even some recipes. Life in Tuscany has been very good for the Mate family - they are interesting people who seem like friends by its' end. Reading this book is like sitting down with him over a glass of fine red wine and a plate of crostini - and discussing the good things in life. I've already ordered his previous book and am looking forward to trying some Mate' wine. This book makes the armchair traveler want to book a flight to Italy now!

First of all, how fun that Joyce wrote in (previous review!) Personal thoughts from Tuscany are always appreciated over here in the States.

Secondly, BUY THIS BOOK.

Sure, I've been to Italy more than a few times. But more importantly, I truly believe I've read just about everything British, American, and to some extent Italian, written on Tuscany and various other areas of my beloved Italia and this ranks at the top of the list. I've read Mate before (both his Tuscan book and A Reasonable Life) but this is by far my favorite. The man has a perfectionist/poet's heart and is an amusing, clever writer. I love his brand of humor, especially when it's directed inward. The ability to laugh at himself in unison with us (and the Italians on hand!) is charming. This man has lived a Big Life. I envy him & his beloved Candace. Oh, did I forget to mention that I would also consider this a love story? Mille Grazie to them both for living my dream.

To all those who yearn to live in Tuscany, own a vineyard and become wine-makers in Tuscany, or simply bona fide wine lovers, who enjoy the finished product: don't miss reading A VINEYARD IN TUSCANY by Ferenc Màté. This is the rollicking and sometimes poignant story, which shoves romanticism aside and gets down to the nitty-gritty = HOW TO DO IT! Candace and Ferenc Màté are the new kids on the block by Tuscan vintner standards; but the age-old makers of Brunello di Montalcino can only smile at their neighbours while welcoming them to the brotherhood.

Just to set the record straight: Candace is the brain and Ferenc is the brawn behind the Màté Vineyards...(va bene, let's give Ferenc credit for spawning the original dream of wanting to own a vineyard.) Màté describes their adventures, which include the search for the perfect land for planting vines; restoration of an ancient friary, "IL COLOMBAIO" which becomes their home, installation of the vineyard, and finally making their own wine.

WOMEN WINE-MAKERS REJOICE!! Candace Màté is your patron saint! Interestingly enough, it is F. Màté's wife Candace, who has always been the steady hand at the helm and the one who gives birth to the dream. Candace Màté did the wine-making R & D, finished a 2 year course in Rome, and is now a certified sommelier. She tended, nursed, pampered, soothed their wine and finally MARKETED the Màté label! And if excellent chef, and fantastic Mom to their son Peter don't suffice, she is also a talented artist! When you buy your first bottles of Mantus, Banditone, Albatro, or Màté Brunello di Montalcino, please note her sensuous paintings which became the labels. You almost want to enlarge them to poster size and frame them!

Now, you ask yourself, where is Ferenc, in the meantime? Like a man, off on one of his "mis-adventures": wrestling with the sand-blasting machine which becomes an uncontrollable cobra, or initiation day on the new FIAT caterpillar-track tractor, where he successfully destroys garden, chicken coop and a portion of the woods. Cool, calm and minute Candace is always there on the sidelines to rescue Ferenc with a piece of her amazing crostata, or a good dose of alcohol to keep his blood-sugar level up. Need I mention that she single-handedly held down the fort & ran the estate while Ferenc has spent the last 3 years between NYC finishing A VINEYARD IN TUSCANY, and Tahiti writing another sailing adventure book.

But, God bless his heart; Ferenc Màté's bumbling, playfully-mad, Hungarian spirit carries us through a delightful & humorous romp...and I don't just mean crushing grapes! I do chide his swashbuckling, Madonna-invoking swearing, (a big NO-NO even among hardened Italian criminals).Yet, he is so candid and ready to acknowledge his shortcomings, that he is loveable, and thus forgiven as he tickles you from chapter 1-38.

I was honoured to see that, Sandro & I make a cameo appearance. Grazie caro Ferenc, but loquacious-soul that I am, please give me longer lines next time!!
Signore e Signori, enjoy reading A VINEYARD IN TUSCANY, the ethereal dream to plant a vineyard in Tuscany and make your own wine. A dream that didn't elude Candace and Ferenc Màté.

JOYCE MARIE DITTEMORE; "VILLA LA TORRE"; 86 CECILIANO DI AREZZO, ITALY
2005girasole@libero.it

I loved this book! Set in one of the most picturesque locations in all the world, follow along with Fenenc, Candace and Buster as they enjoy living out their dreams together in Tuscany. If you enjoy good wine, love to travel or just enjoy chasing a dream this is THE book for you. It is about historic land, it is about developing relationships with all types of people and it is about actually going after a dream instead of just dreaming about it.

I know what you are saying... not another book about someone who moves to Tuscany, but this is not that book. It is well written and very descriptive right down to the memorable meals for which Tuscany is also known.

My wife and I just returned from touring the Tuscan region and we enjoyed every page. Do what we did, order some of his Brunello and Syrah and enjoy it along with his stories of how it came to be. Or perhaps give this book as a gift (along with another bottle of his great wine)...they will love it!~

An excellent read! I thoroughly enjoyed the story of how the Mate family rebuilt an old friary in Tuscany and the many adventures and midadventures they encountered along the way. I especially enjoyed "meeting" all of those local craftspeople, neighbors, and others who appear in the book....it made me feel as if I were there. As a professional geographer, I greatly appreciated the description of the vineyard in development...its soil, elevation, & microclimates. I was so taken by this book that I immediately began searching for some of the highly rated wines produced by Mate. Not have much success locally in Maryland, I e-mailed the Mates. To my surprise, I received an immediate personal response from Candace Mate, wife of the author Ferenc Mate and a major character in the book. She was very gracious and have me several websites and names of people to contact (Mate website and email addresses are included in the book). I am now awaiting delivery of our wine! If you love Tuscany, Italian culture, and wines, then this delightfully writen book is a must read.

It was with much anticipation that I started reading 'A Vineyard in Tuscany', by Ferenc Mate. I had read 'The Hills of Tuscany', an earlier book by the same author and had enjoyed that thoroughly so I was very pleased upon learning that a new book was available. I was not disappointed. The adventures the author and family have while reconstructing a very old building and property to make a home and vineyard are entertaining to say the least. At times I would find myself chuckling softly and other times laughing out loud at the author's wonderful sense of humor. The descriptions allow the reader to be transported to what their life was like during this project. This is a book I'd highly recommend, especially if one happens to have a strong affection for Tuscany and if one doesn't, they will after reading 'A Vineyard in Tuscany'!

I read this book cover to cover- didn't put it down. It was fabulous... Mate truly writes in a way that makes you feel as if you are there. It was beautifully written, both heartfelt and hilarious. A great story about a down to earth family's adventures (and misadventures) while renovating a 13th century friary into their home, and transforming the surrounding property into vineyards.

I LOVED this book! I've read over 20 books about Italy, Tuscany, Wine, etc. and this was clearly one of the best and most enjoyable to read. Ferenc is a master storyteller with a great sense of humor; his descriptions of daily life will make you salivate at the thought of living in Italy and making good wine. So, pour yourself a nice glass of Brunello or Chianti and settle in for a wonderful afternoon with this book! Salute!

One of the best books on the struggles of establishing a great vineyard and the hard work that goes into wine making. As a fellow Hungarian I am even more impressed by the crafting of this book. Great writing! It is obvious the author had fun with it.

There is something both exhilarating and heartwarming reading the exploits of an author who lives and ultimately accomplishes his dream. The story becomes even more uplifting when his or her aspirations can be shared by readers who have experienced the joys described in the adventure. Ferenc Máté had a dream to move to Tuscany, own a vineyard and produce award-winning wine. A VINEYARD IN TUSCANY is the story of how he and his wife accomplished that goal. For anyone who has visited the beautiful province described in his glorious prose and partaken of the wines produced in its vineyards, this book is to be savored and enjoyed, just like a fine Chianti or other exquisite wine of the region.

Of course one does not just decide on a whim that a Tuscan vineyard is their life ambition. Máté sets the scene for readers by describing in beautiful detail his family life in Italy. He and his wife Candace, a painter, had purchased and restored a small villa in Tuscany called La Marinaia (an apt name for property owned by Máté, who has written several books with nautical themes). While he loved the property, the two acres of land were far too small to allow him to fulfill his dream: the production of a world-class wine with his name on the label. An undertaking such as this requires far more than growing grapes. Italian winemakers toil on the land where their grapes are produced and attend to each and every aspect of the wine production. The end product is the result of personal blood, sweat and tears.

A VINEYARD IN TUSCANY details Máté's search for precisely the right piece of property on which to produce his wine. But the property is but one of many required pieces of the dream. After finding what seemed to be a glorious vineyard of 15 acres, Máté meets his vintner neighbor, Angelo Gaja, and learns the story behind the production of the world-renowned Gaja wines. It would serve as a roadmap and inspiration for Máté. Shortly after their first meeting, Gaja presents him with a $400 housewarming gift: a bottle of Sori San Lorenzo wine. Máté's dinner guests treat the gift as though it is the Holy Grail.

The new vineyard requires several laborious tasks before wine can be produced. The property includes a 13th century friary that will be converted into a home and winery. As the author details the rebuilding and construction effort, readers can almost see the dollar bills (or perhaps, more appropriately, the Euros) hemorrhaging from his accounts. One thing is clear from this book: producing a world-class wine is neither a simple task nor an effort where one cuts financial corners. For Máté the end result is the achievement of his dream. His wines receive international acclaim; in fact, his Máté Syrah is voted the 2007 Italian Wine of the Year. The book's last pages contain information and comments on the various products of the vineyard. Italian food lovers will also find some classic Tuscan recipes to please the palate while enjoying any fine wine.

A VINEYARD IN TUSCANY is a delightful and humorous tale that combines elements of travelogue and wine drinking for readers interested in either subject. Anyone who has traveled to Tuscany or Italy will find pleasure in the detail of the Italian countryside as recreated by Máté. Any lover of wine will understand why the Italians take meticulous effort to produce wines that have no equal in the world. Like the wines he creates, Máté has written a book that readers can consume with pleasure and delight.

--- Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman

This book is really a journal describing a personal quest rather than a manual on how to build a vineyard, although that is what happens. The author's self-deprecating sense of humor is key as he describes the sometimes absurd challenges he and his family faced renovating an ancient "ruin" into a functioning home complete with a world-class vineyard. His love of Tuscany is demonstrated throughout by the charming descriptions of the people he encounters. The evident quality of the wine they ultimately produced (I haven't tried it yet, but hope to) makes me wish there was even more detail about how they did it, but this story is more about the journey than the final, bottled result. Great book.

I LOVED this book!! Ferenc Mate has brilliantly captured not only the allure of Tuscany, but more importantly, the detailed passion of pursuing the life-long dream of creating his own, superb wines. I repeatedly found myself bursting into laughter at his brutally honest assessments of his attempts, experiments, and trials in the pursuit of his dream. I also found myself transported to Tuscany as he vividly paints magnificent word pictures of the people of Tuscany, their food, their wine, their olio nuovo, and their marvelous (and often eccentric) customs! I could not stop reading this book and in fact often read passages aloud to my spouse! My wife and I have enjoyed several visits to Tuscany so we were able to revisit the powerful memories we have of the time, place and people of Tuscany through Ferenc's writing. I have always believed that words are the flesh of our thoughts and that being the case, few authors are more gifted in expressing their thoughts than Ferenc - so much so in fact, that I have booked a return visit to Tuscany! Anyone with even a remote interest in reading about a family's journey from success to significance MUST NOT MISS THIS SUPERB BOOK!

I have been a member of a book club for almost 20 years and this is the most enjoyable book I have read in years! I am a lover of Italy and wine and this brings those two together in a way I have never experienced. Mate has a talent for painting the most vivid pictures with his words. He fills the pages with imagery and humor and humanity in a way that makes the book hard to put down. I first witnessed his talents in his book, "The Hills of Tuscany". When my wife found this book, we knew it was a "must". "Under the Tuscan Sun" pales in comparison to both of these books. If you enjoy Italy and/or wine, this is a book not to be missed!