Andrea Occhipinti - Alea Rosa Aleatico 2022

A fresh, vibrant and aromatic light rose/chilled red from the shores of Lake Bolsena in Italy.

Strawberry, cranberry, and redcurrant, with blood orange, violet and lavender, subtle oak spices (cinnamon and cloves), and volcanic earth. Light and bright on the palate, with a chalky texture, mineral acidity, vibrant earthy tannins. 

Light but flavoursome with surprising structure. Beautiful drinking and wonderfully food friendly.

NERD NOTES

Maceration on the skins for one night. Wild ferment in small cement bins. Elevage for 6 months in steel and cement. Sulphites at bottling the only addition.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER

Andrea's estate is based on the volcanic slopes surrounding the Lake Bolsena (the largest volcanic lake in Europe), about 15 minutes drive from the Tuscan border. A region famous for producing low quality white wine that is now seeing an influx of serious minded wine makers. Bolsena has oodles of potential for interesting wine with its volcanic soils and unique, lake influenced, micro-climate.

Andrea works primarily with Aleatico di Gradoli (the local Aleatico, stylistically a bit more on the delicate and spicy than the versions from Tuscany) and with Grechetto Rosso (called Grechette due to proximity with Umbria, but part of the Sangiovese family, although it tastes completely different than any Sangiovese you may have tried).

Andrea fell in love with the vineyards of Gradoli (Lake Bolsena) while he was at the Agrarian University of Tuscia, so much so that they became the subject of his master’s thesis in 2004. He was able to rent and purchase 4 hectares of vineyards planted in the 1990’s. They are 450 metres above sea level on the volcanic slopes of Bolsena. The vineyards are organic and the winemaking is natural with the only addition being sulphur at bottling.