For those who love Ciliegiolo

In mid-May, I went with my colleague Livia Belardelli to Narni for the Ciliegiolo d’Italia tasting of wines made with this grape which is common to central Italy but, as I discovered, is also wonderfully used in the north. This was not the only surprise of the trip and while this has nothing to do with wine, some of our readers may like to know that the ‘Smart’ car does not carry a spare and getting a flat with one on a Saturday evening is no fun at all. The real surprise is the following Ciliegiolo wine that has a mellow personality that is sure to impress you.

It is produced by the Collecapretta estate near Spoleto, in an area known above all for its olives, where they have been producing wines for three generations, although it was not until more recently that its current owner, Vittorio Mattioli, has been bottling it. The estate cultivates classic Umbrian varietals, in particular Trebbiano Spolentino along with Ciliegiolo, Sangiovese and a couple of gems: Greco and Merlot. Part of the estate’s production is still sold in bulk, above all in demijohn jugs. The winery is functional without too many technological frills and they have only recently been using large wood barrels for aging. Production is on a human and artisanal scale, one in which it is a pleasure to make wine.

Related Products