Vineka Rosone Vin Orange IGP Itria 2022

This orange wine is made in the Itria Valley, in the heart of Puglia, by the Vineka house, based in Martina Franca. This rolling valley, set on the limestone Murge plateau between the provinces of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto, is famous for its trulli and its native white grape varieties. The Rosone cuvée brings together three of them, Verdeca, Bianco d'Alessano and Minutolo, which find precious freshness here amid the generous sun of southern Italy.

The grapes, harvested ripe, are vinified like a red wine: the juice ferments in contact with the skins, with temperature-controlled maceration that extracts amber colour, substance and a light tannic texture. The wine is then aged in stainless-steel tanks, with no oak, before further maturing in bottle prior to release. This approach preserves the tension of the grape varieties while giving them singular depth and aromatic complexity.

This wine reveals notes of candied fruit, orange peel, dried apricot, caramel, honey, quince, chamomile and sweet spices. The broad, warm nose blends candied citrus and dried fruit with a floral and spicy touch. The palate is dry and savoury, softened by the roundness of candied fruit, with lovely sapidity and acidity that keeps everything fresh. The finish is long and persistent; ideally served between 14 and 16 °C.

Ah, Italy, what a beautiful, hedonistic country, the land of la dolce vita, but how difficult it is to understand its wine industry! The key to understanding the appellation system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous nation, as each region has its own appellation system. Italy can offer wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, bottles brimming with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless, characterless wines sold under their most commercially useful and prestigious name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco, and many others... But let's talk a little history. Viticulture in Italy dates back to antiquity and originated in Greece. The Etruscans are said to have introduced the vine, and Greek immigrants improved and modified the grape varieties, subsequently calling the country "Oenotria": the land of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life, and certain regions already distinguished themselves by the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible mark of their conquest. Today, Italy is the world's largest wine producer, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic zones. The northern mountains have a rather harsh mountain climate. The plains of the "central boot" are characterized by a continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the southern part of the Italian boot, the Mediterranean climate prevails, with very hot and dry summers, not forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In short, Italy produces a wide variety of wines thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originated in its own lands. It is a country as complex as its wines, which deserve to be explored!