Ciao Tutti!
This weekend we will taste a new Grechetto, the Umbria IGT Grechetto ($22.25, 12.5 % ABV) from the Argillae winery near the town of Allerona in the hills northwest of the famous city of Orvieto. The name “Argillae” is derived from Latin “argilla” for clay, since the area in this part of Umbria has clay-rich soils.
The story of Argillae begins with a wine distillery dating from the early 1900’s that became Italy’s largest. Descendant Giuseppe Bonollo began to seek a suitable area for producing high-quality wines. By the mid 1980’s, he finally found an ideal location in the hills north of Orvieto.
The estate has 15 hectares of vineyards that enjoy an east-west exposure on sunny slopes of the rolling hills. In the early years of Argillae, Bonello’s focus was the international market; since 2015, Italy has been the primary focus, due to the involvement of Guiseppe’s granddaughter Julia.
Giula is now the manager of Argillae. She is an innovator who, under her guidance, two new wines were introduced to Argillae’s portfolio: Primo d’Anfora, a white wine that is vinified in terracotta amphorae and Spumante Brut, a sparkling wine vinified per the Charmat Method.
Grechetto is my second favorite Italian white wine. Argillae’s Grechetto is a single vineyard medium bodied wine and I like its delicate floral bouquet of acacia, crisp citrus flavor from green apple and white stone fruits, good acidity and its subtle mineral finish that is typical for white wines from Umbria. Pair with Piazza’s pasta dishes, grilled chicken or fish entrees and soft to medium aged cheeses.
Come join me on Friday from noon to 5:45 or Sunday from noon to 4:45 for a taste of Umbria, one of my fave regions in Italy.
Cin Cin!
Jenn
Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.
