Controvento, Doccia Fredda Bianco 2018

A blend of Trebbiano d’Abruzzo and Passerina (a rare, local varietal). Meaning, “Cold Shower” in Italian, Doccia Fredda is a supremely refreshing, slightly orange wine. After being hand-harvested from a similarly sea-facing & clay-soil site where the vines are anywhere from 21-23 years old, the grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation in steel tanks, macerating on the skins for 5 days. Unfined, unfiltered, no addition of sulphur. A touch of reduction on the nose but swirling it in the glass will help this blow off. Hazy, bright orange. Salty, iron minerality. Bright and sunny. Juicy grapefruit.

Controvento, meaning “Upwind” in Italian, is a 5 hectare vineyard in the Rocca San Giovanni region of Abruzzo just off the Adriatic Sea. Enzo’s farm, situated partially in a valley with the backdrop of the beautiful Adriatic in the distance, is a completely organically-run vineyard. Vines are grown on calcareous soil and cooled by the salty breeze of the Adriatic Sea. Fertilized with only winter green manure, the vines are pruned under the waning moon and zero chemicals of any kind are ever used. Enzo’s philosophy of wine-making is strict, allowing the grapes to flourish in each and every bottle. Enzo said after visiting Cantina that he wanted to make wines like his Grandfather did, in the purest possible form, therefore, he never fines, clarifies, filters, or uses any sulphur and always allows for spontaneous fermentation.