Montepulciano, Abruzzo, Italy

A rich, dark and spiced montepulciano d’Abruzzo to transport you to the good ol’ days. Cantina Orsogna was created in 1964, and is a cooperative company representing 450 organic and biodynamic growers in the southern centre of Italy! Co-ops like this are lifelines to small producers, allowing farmers to survive and share high costs of winemaking and exporting internationally. We’ve long been fans of many Lunaria wines, and are delighted to add this coastal beauty to the lineup. Winemaker Pasquale Pizzolo follows biodynamic principles on the Lunaria estate, and (as you may have guessed) allows the lunar calendar to guide his viticulture practices, harvesting and bottling. Grown on sandy-clay soils in the Apennine mountains, a mere 15 km from the Adriatic Sea, the grapes were hand-harvested, crushed and left on skins for two weeks, then aged between stainless steel and oak to both preserve freshness and add fine spice. Black cherry jam on toast, hazelnut spread, plum compote, ground clove and meaty spices, espresso shot, cocoa powder, cinnamon bark & Madagascar vanilla. Pair with braised meats and cabbage, while watching anything made with Robert De Niro before 2000.