What is a Madrigal? Growing up I thought our last name was odd, It was hard to pronounce and nobody else had the same name. I remember thinking that a more common surname would be nice but fast forward to the present and I realize what a cool name it is.
Madrigal is a type of music from the Renaissance, a two to eight part story telling harmony. It’s most famous composer was Claudio Monteverde and I’ve listened to recordings of his music. Not something that I have playlists of but it is interesting. Here is an example:
The name eventually became two surnames, Madrigale in Italy and Madrigal in Spain. Originally used as where you were from. There are at least two towns named Madrigal in Spain. Madrigal de la Vera and Madrigal de las altas Torres. I have no proof but I choose to believe that we are descendants of the latter. I have taken my family to visit Madrigal de las altas Torres and this pilgrimage is what inspired me to plant Tempranillo and Garnacha.
Evidence of the first entrance of a Madrigal into the Americas was on a ship's manifest of one of Hernan Cortes’s conquests in 1519. Madrigals can be found wherever Spain conquered or explored. There are Madrigals in Spain, North America, Central America, South America and the Philippines. It actually turns out that a name I once thought was rare, is represented on our mailing list in over 300 different Madrigal families.
Today Madrigal is a famous Swiss Cheese, a flatware set, cigar brand, and funny man - Al Madrigal. Last but not least, it’s a great winery with a real Napa Valley family behind it.
Try some Madrigal family wines with this great offer: 2011 Nuestra Sangre for $30.00 per bottle and 2011 Barberis Petite Sirah for $40.00 per bottle. Enter discount code: madrigal for free shipping through February 15th.