Sangiovese, Canaiolo & Ciliegiolo, Tuscany, Italy

For the ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ die-hards, the gothic era fanatics & those whose favourite tv channel was and will always be, the Discovery Channel. Pacina is both a hamlet just outside of Castelnuovo Berardenga, southeast of Florence), and the name of winemakers Giovanna and Stefano’s ancient winemaking estate with roots from the first millenium. FUN FACT! The town is named after the Etruscan god Pachna – the god that became Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and revelry. They work organically, cultivating a pulsating ecosystem and make wine with traditional methods, long macerations & minimal intervention. They refer to this wine as their most important in terms in character and tradition and in a 1.5 litre MAGNUM it is truly hard to beat. 10-35 year old Sangiovese vines grow on fossil-rich limestone (the area was a full fledged sea many years ago!), which contributes a sturdy mineral backbone and vital acidity. A blend of (95%) sangiovese and (5%) floral canaiolo & spiced ciliegiolo. Leather workshop, dried wedding bouquet, unearthed black truffle, poached plum, black olive, picking juniper & shaving a pencil with a pocket knife. Enjoy after a wander in the garden, and a rereading of Pride & Prejudice on the creaky porch swing.