by Mary J. Blige
SUN GODDESS
WINE COLLECTION
Sun Goddess wines are produced with love and passion from sun-kissed vineyards owned by the Fantinel family in Friuli Venezia Giulia.
Here, the peculiar microclimate and the precious terroir guarantee the highest quality and ultimate expression.
THE NAME
“Sun Goddess” immediately struck me as the perfect name as it connects my real life, conveys the connection between nature, and the personality of wines I enjoy the most, combined with my style and that of Fantinel.
The name SUN GODDESS evokes powerful childhood memories that I carry with me today. I’ve always loved the sun, and as a child I always tried to capture the sun’s warmth and energy. It was magical to me, and it’s with that spirit, that my mom began calling me “Sun Goddess”.
ABOUT MJB
Iconic Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, actress, producer and philanthropist, Mary J. Blige is a figure of inspiration, transformation and empowerment making her one of the defining voices of the contemporary music era.
With a track record of eight multi-platinum albums, nine Grammy Awards (plus a staggering 32 nominations), two Academy Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, a SAG nomination, and a BET Lifetime Achievement award, among many other accolades, Blige has cemented herself as a global superstar. And in the ensuing years, the singer/songwriter has attracted an intensely loyal fan base—responsible for propelling worldwide sales of more than 50 million albums.
Mary J. Blige and Marco Fantinelon Sun Goddess Wines collection
What inspired Mary J. Blige to create her own wine? Why naming it Sun Goddess? Why choosing an Italian winemaker?Find all the answers to these and more questions during an intimate chat between Mary J. Blige and Italian winemaker Marco Fantinel where they discuss wine, music and future plans. Sun Goddess Wines collection features an Italian Pinot Grigio Ramatoand an Italian Sauvignon Blanc.
FANTINEL
Fantinel Winery was born from the passion of Mario Fantinel, a well-known hotelier and restaurateur in Friuli Venezia Giulia (a region in the north-east of Italy)
His love for wine was inherited by his children who expanded the families’ vineyard properties into the best areas of the Friuli region. What began as a small agricultural endeavor, is today a third-generation wine company represented by grandsons Marco and Stefano. Fantinel has become an internationally prestigious winery and an ambassador for the craft of Friulian winemaking in the world.
The heart of the operation is located in Tauriano, part of the ancient village Spilimbergo. A few miles away, within a stately winery, the Fantinel team manages over 300 hectares of vineyards divided into the renowned Friuli, Prosecco, Collio and Colli Orientali denominations. Each of these exceptional zones contains terroir which provides optimal microclimates for the maturation of the grapes and thus a true expression of each vine variety, including indigenous grapes, such as Friulano, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Ribolla Gialla, and international grape varieties, especially Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Upholding traditions, a terroir-driven quest for excellence, and deep passion for the land compose the Fantinel family philosophy for producing wines of the highest quality, which are successfully exported to over 90 countries and awarded with excellent reviews by the international press.
1st
Firstly, this territory’s particular climate, characterized by a strong temperature difference between night and day, enables the grapes to develop a significant acidity which, in the glass, reveals fragrant aromas with pleasantly vigorous citrus notes for the palate. The primary aromas show refined flower scents and intense fruits.
2nd
Secondly, the terroir in this area is extremely rich in minerals, providing and strengthening structure and making Friulian wines full- bodied, complex and long-lasting.
INSPIRATION
“Wine tasting is one of my passions. Wine is culture. Wine is community. Wine is lifestyle. Wine is emotion.”
«I have always been particularly fond of white wines that demonstrate freshness, minerality, and purity. Pinot Grigio is undoubtedly among my favorite varieties. One day, I asked a friend of mine what is the best Pinot Grigio in the world and he quickly responded that the best Pinot Grigio came from Friuli Venezia Giulia. In deepening my knowledge of this little Italian region I was introduced to Marco Fantinel, owner of one of the leading wineries of this area. Pictures alone helped me fall in love with the Fantinel estate so I decided to go visit it personally. After walking though the vineyards and tasting with the Fantinel family, I felt extremely connected to the place, and more importantly, the people. The experience inspired me to create my own wines in partnership with Marco Fantinel.»