French wine
Picardy is not an official wine region anymore. Yet it has a rich history related to grapegrowing and winemaking and has recently been demonstrating a revival of its . 40 villages of Picardy (south of the Aisne department) are now part of the area and several small recreational vineyards were established in the last two decades e.g. in Coucy le Château, Gerberoy, Gouvieux, Clairoix, etc.
Recanati winery
The winery was founded in 2000 by Lenny Recanati (b. 1953). The winery produces young red and white blends under its Yasmin label, varietals under its Recanati and Reserve labels, and a Special Reserve. All grapes are hand-harvested, two-thirds originating in Recanati’s high-altitude Manara vineyards in the Upper Galilee with which it has contracts, and the remainder from vineyards planted in the clay-rich soil of the Jezreel Valley.
Chief winemaker Gil Shatsberg, a graduate of the U.C. Davis wine program, worked for Amphorae and Carmel wineries before joining Recanati. Shatsberg replaced Lewis Pasco, previously winemaker for Chimney Rock and Marimar Torres in California.