Oliver Asberger is settling into life in North Georgia, and according to him, it's a good thing he's had some time to assimilate into his new life prior to crunch time--or crush time--at work. Mother Nature could turn on the green light for grape harvesting sooner rather than later this summer. "We have had pretty good conditions for grape growing here at Montaluce over the past several months," Asberger explains.

Of the more than 30 acres eventually planned for Montaluce's vineyard, 15 acres planted in spring 2007 are now producing fruit. This will be the Estate's first grape harvest and the first time that the winery will go into full production. "We have some white wine grapes that are almost ready to harvest now and would be perfect if we were making a sparkling wine," Asberger notes.

However, the team will wait a few weeks longer before picking to achieve maximum flavor and varietal correctness from the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay grapes that are planted in the vineyard.

In his role as Vineyard Manager at Montaluce, Asberger oversees the day-to-day activity in the vineyard and he reports directly to lead winemaker Stefano Salvini who will arrive at Montaluce later in the summer just in time for harvest.

In the meantime, Asberger says that the winery is in ship shape and ready for the first bin of grapes to be delivered to the crush pad of the 25,000 square-foot, gravity fed winery.

Prior to his post at Montaluce, Asberger worked most recently at Atlantic Gardens Vineyard in Cape May, New Jersey and before that in Charlottesville, Virginia at the prestigious Keswick Vineyard and the Acorn Hill Vineyard. He was trained in winemaking and vineyard management at the Bavarian State College in Veitshoechheim, Germany. He also participated in the work-study program at Ohio State University where he spent time in Michigan, Washington State and New York. Asberger received his United States' citizenship earlier this summer after he moved to North Georgia in April.

Montaluce is a new wine country development in the North Georgia Mountains near Dahlonega. Located on 400 rolling acres situated at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains and adjacent to the Chattahoochee National Forest and the Etowah River, Montaluce is a community based on the Italian ideal of "La Vita Bella," or the beautiful life--centered around community, food, wine and sharing. At the heart of the Estate, and at its highest point, the property boasts a state-of-the-art winery that will yield its first grape harvest in fall 2008.

Montaluce Estates and Vineyard is located at 501 Hightower Church Road, Dahlonega, Georgia 30533. Telephone: 866.991.VINO (8466) or 706. 867.4060.  www.montaluce.com