Meloni Malvasia di Cagliari DOC Bio 2011

This Malvasia di Cagliari from Meloni was born in southern Sardinia, around Cagliari, where Malvasia di Sardegna, a variety introduced in Antiquity, found one of its favourite homes. The vines enjoy a hot, dry Mediterranean climate, generous sunshine and sea winds that keep the bunches healthy. Based in Selargius, at the gates of Cagliari, the Meloni house farms its vineyard organically and carries on the Sardinian tradition of great sweet wines made from ancient grape varieties.

The Malvasia grapes were harvested late, in mid-October, once the berries had concentrated their sugars and aromas. Fermentation retained a large share of the grape's natural sugars, giving rise to a naturally sweet dessert wine balanced by lovely acidity. From organic farming, this vintage was then kept for a long time before release, without showing any sign of premature development, proof of this grape variety's remarkable ageing ability.

This wine reveals notes of mango, pineapple, passion fruit, apricot, acacia honey, orange blossom, lemon zest and toasted almond. Beneath a brilliant gold colour, the nose expresses great freshness, dominated by tropical fruit and a delicate floral touch. The fruity, invigorating, savoury palate combines sweetness and liveliness thanks to well-defined acidity. The subtle, persistent finish leaves an impression of balance and purity.

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!