Caprera "Le Vasche" Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2016

Producer: Agricola Caprera

Region: Pietranico, Abruzzo, Italy

Varietal: Montepulciano

Caprera is an organic, artisan farm in the rugged wilderness of central Italy's Abruzzo. In their words:

"Vineyards. Olive groves. Woods. Bees. Caprera is, first and foremost, a farm. We are located in Pietranico, in the very heart of green and wild Abruzzo region.

Here we make good things as we like."

They describe their work as "human geometries in the disorderly order of Nature," cultivating native grapes long acclimatized to the region, and dictating the gentle harvest of crops with a hand respectful of the local ecology.

"Le Vasche" takes its name from ancient stone basins used for crushing grapes unique to the Abruzzo region. In ancient times, it was common to create outdoor pressing tanks near the vineyards. This tradition originated during the Greek colonization of southern Italy. The rupestrian basins, (or palmenti ) are basins for pressing grapes, hand-carved into the stones emerging from the land. All the palmenti have a system of separate tanks and drains for must collection.

The origin of the basins is uncertain, because dating back a carved stone is extremely difficult. One vasche of Caprera has "1687" imprinted on its surface.

This is relatively young for such a structure, and they are estimated to be far older in origin.

Le Vasche is fermented with 100% native, wild yeasts in stainless steel. It melds the intensity of Montepulciano with an easy, relaxed structure. A versatile and approachable option for cooler days or chill-kissed evenings.