Italy

Taste Notes:

100% Aglianico. This wine is bright ruby red in colour, with violet reflections. On the nose, there are intense aromas of cherry, violets and cocoa. Full-bodied, this wine has a sweet red fruit character with delicate oak nuances of vanilla and spice on the long finish.

Vineyard: 

The estate vineyards are trained low and planted on volcanic soils on the slopes of Mount Vulture, at an altitude of up to 800 metres above sea level. According to the consultant winemaker Alberto Antonini, the area is isolated and just like stepping back in time.

Vinification:

On arrival at the winery, the grapes were destemmed and gently crushed, then the must was fermented in temperature-controlled, stainless-steel tanks at temperatures of 22-24°C. Frequent and gentle pumping over took place during fermentation, which lasted approximately 30 days. The wine was then aged in stainless-steel tanks (60%) and in used oak barriques (40%) for 10 months. Finally, it was aged in bottle for a further three months before release.

Producer: 

Valentino Sciotti (of Vesevo, Gran Sasso and other Farnese estates) took over this small co-operative in Basilicata in Acerenza in the heart of the Aglianico del Vulture zone in 2008. Consultant winemaker Alberto Antonini works with Manuel Barbone, and together they manage to capture the character of the grapes and the zone superbly in the bottle.

Taste Notes:

70% Corvina/Corvinone , 25% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese. This wine is ruby red in colour with purple highlights. On the nose, there are enticing aromas of cherry with rich dark chocolate notes and hints of cloves and vanilla. Velvety in texture, it is well-balanced and offers ripe, juicy dark fruit, with silky tannins and refreshing acidity.

Vineyard: 

Palazzo della Torre covers 26 hectares of east-facing vineyard planted between 1962 and 2013, situated 240 metres above sea level. Allegrini purchased this vineyard in 1978. Soils are cretaceous and calcareous, with Pergola Trentina trained vines planted at 3,000 vines per hectare.

Vinification:

Franco Allegrini used the modern version of the traditional 'ripasso' technique for Palazzo della Torre, drying a proportion of the grapes in the 'Terre di Fumane' drying centre, to intensify the character of this vineyard. The grapes that were dried were hand picked during September, and the grapes vinified immediately were picked at the end of the month. 70% of the grapes picked were vinified immediately and 30% were left to dry until the second half of December when they were vinified and then refermented with the wine from the fresh grapes. The wine spent 15 months in second-use barriques, and was blended together for two months, then aged for a further seven months in bottle.

Producer: 

The Allegrini family estate covers 100 hectares of vineyard in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico area. The family has been growing grapes here for six generations, but the estate in its current form was founded by Giovanni Allegrini. When he passed away in 1983, it passed to his three children, who ran it together until Walter's death in July 2003. Franco now looks after the vineyards and is the winemaker, and Marilisa is director of marketing.

Taste Notes:

Merlot: 60%, Corvina: 40%. Vibrant purple colour, rich luscious nose full of sweet ripe dark cherry, plum, vanilla and christmas spice. Rich and velvety, with lots of juicy fruit. Very easy drinking. 

Vinification:

The grapes come from selected vineyards harvested at the beginning of October, to allow the grapes to have increased maturation. Before picking, the vines' cordons are cut, but the grapes are left on the vines, and for up to 15 days the grapes begin to dry naturally on the vine (Appassimento on vine). The grapes are then carefully hand harvested before being pressed. After fermentation the wine is aged in oak for 3-4 months.

Producer: 

For centuries Veneto, in the North East of Italy, has been one of the foremost wine producing regions and one of the most modernised of Italy. With its vast micro-climates, no other region offers more diversity in such close proximity than Veneto. The Gran Passione project was set up in 2013 in homage to the Venetians long standing history of being great traders and their rich wine culture. The aim was to create wines of high quality, that are affordable and representative in style to those that have been made in Veneto for centuries. Using traditional varieties, whilst honouring long-established techniques, Gran Passione create beautiful expressions of these classic Venetian wines.