Country: Italy  Region: Abruzzo  Vintage: 2021 Category: White Wine  Color: White Producer: Gran Sasso "The Gran Sasso wines are made by Valentino Sciotti and his team. Rino Santeusanio is the winemaker while Alberto Antonini acts as consultant. Together, they ensure that the wines have a freshness and vivacity that sets them apart from many in this area. They work closely with their growers to produce a deep-coloured, clean and plummy young Montepulciano, as well as their 'riserva' style Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane DOCG. The 'Colline Teramane' comes from a zone in the northern part of the Abruzzi that is renowned for the quality of its wine, whereas the Trebbiano grapes are grown in the cooler areas of the Apennine foothills and fermented at low temperatures. The Pecorino is apparently named after the resemblance that the bunch of grapes bears to a sheep's head. A relatively rare variety, there are only 300 hectares planted in Abruzzo and Le Marche." Product Features: Vegetarian Product Allergens: Sulphites Label Winemaker: Manuel Barbone Vineyards: Pecorino is a fairly rare variety, with only about 300 hectares planted in the Abruzzo and Le Marche regions. Its name derives from the fact that a bunch of Pecorino grapes was traditionally considered to have a similar shape to a sheep's head. The grapes for this wine come from a 16-year-old vineyard situated at approximately 150 metres above sea level. Vinification: 30% of the wine was fermented in lightly toasted Austrian oak casks with a capacity of 4,000 litres with internal temperature control. The rest was fermented in stainless steel at low temperatures (12°C). The wine was then matured for six months in steel and two months in oak. Tasting Notes: Light yellow-gold in colour, the 2014 Pecorino has a lightly spiced nose from the partial oak ageing which gives way to a fine, floral and ripe citrus fruit character on the palate. It shows a good length with ripe pear characters on the finish. Food Suggestion: Pairs well with fish and shellfish, chicken, pork and veal dishes with tomato sauces as well as with goat's or pecorino (sheep's milk) cheese. Closure: DIAM Cork  ABV: 13%  Acidity [g/l]: 6.8