The grapes reach optimal ripeness in their organic vineyard before being hand-harvested and immediately brought into the cellar. The entire clusters are gently pressed, and then the grapes and must are left to rest at a low temperature for 18-24 hours together (Pellicular Maceration), before being completely pressed off the skins for fermentation in stainless steel. Finished for 20 days in Charmat tanks
Farming: Organic
Santa Giustina is located in the heart of the Colli Piacentini in the far northwestern corner of Emilia-Romagna. A perfect backdrop to what the estate calls their 'village' (a few 1000 year old buildings, a church from 870, and their wine-making facilities) is a series of perfect hills before the distant Alps. A 100 hectare property at 300m above sea level is theirs, comprised of many different crops, forests, vineyards, and a private game reserve. 30 hectares of organically farmed vineyards produce just over 70,000 bottles a year to create a wide range of wine from the local varieties. All viticultural and vinicultural practices are extremely natural in principal, as they find it completely unnecessary to intervene with the natural magic of the grapes they farm. In addition to their clean and pure winemaking philosophy, due to the entire family's allergies to sulfur, they choose to use no SO2 whatsoever in the winery, however they do use sulfites during harvest in the picking bins to prevent early fermentation. Simple and delicious juice is found in each and every bottle, and all are perfect for enjoying at the table.
100% Ortrugo
Ortrugo is a white Italian wine grape variety that is grown in the Piacenza hills of the Emilia-Romagna region of north central Italy. Here the grape is often blended with Malvasia in the DOC white wines of the area. The grape has moderate acidity with high alcohol potential and often contributes a deep yellow color to the wine. In some regions the grape is used in slightly sparkling frizzante and fully sparkling spumante wines.
Country: Italy
Region: Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna is a rich, fertile region of northern Italy, and one of the country's most prolific wine regions – more than 136,000 acres (55,000ha) were under vine in 2010. At 150 miles (240km) wide, it spans almost the entire width of the northern Italian peninsula, sandwiched between Tuscany to the south, Lombardy and Veneto to the north and the Adriatic Sea to the east. Nine miles of Liguria is all that separates Emilia-Romagna from the Ligurian Sea, and uniqueness as the only Italian region with both an east and a west coast.
Emilia-Romagna's viticultural heritage dates back as far as the seventh century BC, ranking it among the older of Italy's wine regions. Vines were introduced here by the Etruscans and later adopted by the Romans, who used the Via Aemilia road (after which the region is named) to transport wine between its cities.
The region's geographical diversity is significant, and plays an important part in creating the various terroirs found here. In the west the rolling hills and Apennine peaks give way to the lower-lying plains east of Parma, Modena and Bologna, and beyond that the coastal plains of the Ferrara province, where a notable portion of the land lies just below sea level. The river Po flows west to east across all these features, marking the region's northern border and linking the Apennines to the Adriatic Sea.
Tasting: Bright green jolly rancher fruits and herbal complexity with a dry finish, fresh, crisp and semi-bubbly