Cirelli Orange 2022
Where: Abruzzo, Italy
Grapes: Trebbiano
Body: Light/Medium
Category: Orange Wine / Skin Contact
producer: Cirelli (@cirelliwines)
Super approachable orange wine with notes of green pear, apple, nectarine and lemon. Fresh acidity and goes down dangerously fast.
The grapes are hand-harvested, separated from the stems, and then macerated in stainless steel for about one month.
Pair with fresh basil/pesto or seafood dish
Song: Southern Nights by Allen Toussaint
Agricola Cirelli is an organic farm certified by IMC (doc. n.3194 RV.01), surrounded by 23 hectares of land. All of its production is designed to respect the natural cycles of the olive trees, vineyards, horticultural crops and the animal breeding. Crop rotation, natural fertilization, and free range animal grazing are Agricola Cirelli’s “techniques” of production. This harmonious environment creates olive oil, wine, vegetables, fruit and meats of supreme quality.
The farm grows its food and wine in total respect of organic agriculture. Nature sets the rules and it dictates the rhythm of every activity. The animals’ interaction with the land offer natural grazing and fertilization of the vines, which means there is no need to use harmful chemical substances.
organic // native yeasts // minimal intervention
Sassara Pinot Griso 2022
Where: Veneto, Italy
Grapes: Pinot Grigio
Body: Light/Medium
Category: Orange Wine / Skin Contact
producer: Sassara Vini (@sassara_vini)
Tart cherry, hibiscus, blood orange
100% Pinot Grigio with 12 days skin maceration. Spontaneous fermentation without temperature control. Aged in stainless steel. No filtering or fining and minimal sulfur added as necessary.
pair with appetizers/snacks with friends
song: unfermented by french cassettes
Vini Sassara is a fourteen hectare beautiful estate nestled in the hills of Valeggio sul Mincio in the Veneto, just south of Lake Garda, close to the town of Custoza at the southern end of the Bardolino DOC. This is the passionate work of Alessia Bertaiola and her husband, Stefano, a 3rd generation winemaker whose family has had this property for more than 50 years. Alessia and Stefano represent the 4th generation to work the morainic hill of Monte Mamaor. They took over the property in 2007, and with Alessia's strong background in agricultural research and development, quickly converted each plot to biodynamic farming. They have been making certified organic wine during that time, but due to a lack of inspiration, they took the plunge into producing a more naturalistic expression of their incredible fruit and soil, greatly inspired by the likes of Danillo Marcucci and others.
biodynamic // native yeasts // minimal intervention // woman winemaker
Salvatore Marino 'Turi' Rosso 2022
Where: Sicily
Grapes: 95% Nero d’Avola 5% Pignatello
Body: Medium
Category: Red Wine
producer: Salvatore Marino (@turi_marino)
A gentler interpretation of Nero d’Avola, the Sicilian varietal best known for power.
"Turi" is the local way of saying Salvatore in Sicily.
The inspiration for the comes from Futurism, an Italian literary, artistic and musical movement of the beginning of the 20th century. The rosso depicts a farm worker raising a bunch of grapes, the result of a lot of work and effort.
pair with red meat or stew on a chilly night
song: nice 'n' easy by frank sinatra
Winemaking: The grapes are destemmed, macerated for six days then ferment with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks. After malolactic fermentation is finished, the wine is racked off its gross lees. It is bottled the Spring following harvest.
organic // native yeasts
Frank Cornelissen Pistemutta Rosato 2021
Where: Mt. Etna, Sicily
Grapes: 100% Nerello Mascalese
Body: Light/Medium
Category: Rose Wine
producer: Frank Cornelissen (@frankcornelissen_winery)
Made on volcanic soils, this wine is a light-weight rose with notes of crushed flowers, stone fruits, and a hint of saline.
pair with blackened green beans and a burger from dapper goose
song: Misnomer by the brook & the bluff
From the winemaker, Frank Cornelissen: “A few years ago we were contacted by Patagonia whether we were interested in doing a project with wine for them. First I thought the mail was spam but it was not. Being a great admirer and user of Patagonia clothing and equipment I was blown away and flattered. Patagonia stands for preserving and developing a sensitivity for nature, which is exactly what we are doing here on Mount Etna producing artisanal, organic wines with respect for nature.
This could not be simply bottling any wine for them and sticking a label on it. This wine had to have a concept. And so I looked at what Etna winemaking represented in the past, different from my approach and vision to winemaking. Pistemutta represents the old-school winemaking on Etna of local farmers, called ‘contadino’. Wines with little skin contact, light bodied, fluid and elegant. This project makes me happy as it takes me back into the history of Etna, before I started producing wines here on Etna.”