Aleatico is a very aromatic grape which expresses itself here through an exuberant bouquet of hyacinth, violet and rose. The perfumes of fresh lemon balm, mint, orange zest and ripe strawberries leave one mouth- watering. The members of the jury at the International Bio Wine Prize 2016 must have felt it as well, since they gave it a silver medal. The aficionados of rosé wines will in any case appreciate how full-bodied it is.

Attributes

Origin:	Italy / Lazio
Site / vineyard:	Gradoli
Grape variety:	Aleatico
Label:	Vegan, Certified organic or biodynamic wine
Ripening potential:	1 to 6 years
Drinking temperature:	10 to 12 °C
Food Pairing:	Apéro pastries, Vegetable dip, Mild Asian dishes, Goat's cheese, Mussels au gratin, Vegetable pie
Vinification:	(short) pellicular fermentation, fermentation in steel tank
Harvest:	hand-picking, strict selection
Maturation:	in steel tank
Bottling:	filtration
Volume:	12.0 %
Note:	Contains sulphites

Producer

Villa Caviciana

When, in the early morning, the sun slowly rises over the glittering mirror-smooth water of the Bolsena Lake, and the first blaring of the sheep, the quiet meowing of the domestic cat and the cheerful chirping of birds break the peaceful silence, then one understands that some people have found here their paradise on earth. Away from the big mass tourism of the coast, only an hour's drive away, in still largely intact nature, the lake spreads out in the charming hilly landscape, sometimes calm, sometimes foaming up, wild like the sea.

Before the Romans, Lazio was the land of the Etruscans. Time and again one comes across contemporary witnesses of that culture. The name Caviciana is derived from the ancient Etruscan name of the area where the vines grow today. The sphinx that adorns the name is a delicate Etruscan sculpture found in the surrounding caves. It stands for immortality.

Grape variety

Aleatico

This ancient, red variety is found mainly in central and southern Italy and was almost forgotten for a long time. The juice of these small, dark berries is wonderfully spicy and is mainly used to produce lusciously sweet and intensified liqueur wines. Aleatico has long been grown in Corsica and Elba, which is how Napoleon became acquainted with the grape and the sweet wine produced from it. According to anecdotes, Aleatico wine was his only consolation during his exile.

It is unclear where the vine originates from. Italians suggest it is indigenous to the Apulia Region; the Greeks favor the theory that the vine found its way from Crete to southern Italy.

Country

Italy

Italy – Where wine is a way of life

The Italian wine regions are extremely diverse, and this is made clear in their wines. Established varieties such as Merlot, Syrah, and Sauvignon can be found on just 15 percent of the total vine growing area. The remaining 85 percent is reserved for autochthonous, indigenous varieties. More than 2,000 different grape varieties are grown under diverse conditions and pressed with various techniques into wines that reach the top tier of the international wine market.