[FAR-NAY-SAY] Location: Ortona, Province of Chieti, Abruzzi, Italy. The name Farnese is one of Italy’s most illustrious. In Renaissance times, this noble family’s wines made scintillating appearances on the banquet tables of numerous European courts thanks to princess Marguerite of Austria, daughter of an Emperor and wife to Prince Octavio Farnese. Marguerite lived an adventurous and fascinating life that took her over half of Europe. When she retired in 1585, she chose the Palazzo Farnese at Ortona (built in 1538) as her last home, providing the viticultural activities of this ancient wine country with vital impetus and scope. Over four centuries later, the Farnese wines – albeit encompassing an ample range of terroirs and microclimates throughout Abruzzi, instrumental in achieving complexity and consistency,– are crafted in the heart of the Colline Teramane DOCG appellation, at titanic, state-of-the-art facilities covering 50,000 square meters (13,000 of which is the actual winery). These were entirely refurbished in 2004 and now include ultramodern equipment and vinification lines as well as over 1,000 barriques of the finest French and American oak, employed for a maximum of 3 years, and 50 Slavonian oak barrels of 25 or 50 hectoliters’ capacity. Joint owners Valentino Sciotti and Camillo de Iuliis capsulize Farnese philosophy in two words: Progetto Qualità. Progetto Qualità Farnese is a stringent series of quality criteria providing the framework of every single stage in the process from vineyard to bottle; no one on the Farnese team, no matter how small his role in the total picture, can stray from these demanding standards. The team itself comprises a large group of young, dynamic wine professionals. As Valentino explains, “the latest harvest alone saw us employ 6 highly experienced oenologists, all with a very solid reputation, 4 of whom had worked for some of the top wineries in France and southern Italy.” This half a dozen winemakers are led by Filippo Baccalaro and technical consultant Professor Mario Ercolino – not to mention top-notch agronomists like Remo di Giuliantonio. Research and development go side by side with this impressive quality set-up. “On the one hand, we are firm believers in the future of native grapes and those of southern Italy in particular; on the other, we like new challenges and look to the international wine scenario. For example, we have commenced experimenting with select clones of Australian Shiraz as well as varieties from Chile and South Africa.” Marguerite of Austria, the cosmopolitan Renaissance princess, would have approved.

Farnese

• FARNESE TREBBIANO D’ABRUZZO DOC:
• 85% Trebbiano d’Abruzzo and 15% Malvasia from Ortana. This is a medium bodied wine with persistent floral & peach aromas and a crisp, lingering finish. Excellent Value.

• 
  FARNESE CHARDONNAY IGT:
  100% Chardonnay from Ortona. Bright tropical aromas. Full bodied flavors with an intense finish. A wonderful unoaked chardonnay that goes well with or without food.
  
   
• FARNESE SANGIOVESE IGT:
• 100% Sangiovese from Ortona, San Salvo and other small farms. 10-20% aged in Austrian wood. Aromas of strawberry and black cherry, medium bodied and pleasant. A Great Value.

• 
   FARNESE MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO DOC:
  100% Montepulciano from Ortona, San Salvo and Poluttri this wine is intense with aromas of red fruit and notes of vanilla, full bodied, well balanced and good persistence on the finish. (No wood aging).
  
  
  

  • 
    OPI MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO COLLINE TERAMANE RISERVA DOCG:
    Opi is Farnese’s pinnacle Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, from the Colline Teramane appellation (Montepulciano
    d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane Riserva DOCG. From particularly small crops and privileged soil round the commune of
    Colonnella, the grapes (slightly late-harvested) are soft-pressed and macerate on the skins for about 25 days,
    previous to malolactic fermentation in barrique and élevage –
    50% in Slavonian oak barrels, 50% in barrique (almost exclusively French, from Séguin Moreau) – for 24 months.
    Ruby to garnet in color, the nose is intense, fruity and persistent with well integrated spice, tobacco, vanilla and
    licorice confirmed on a full-bodied, rotund, well balanced, rich, long palate. Cellar life is 4-5 years.
    Montepulciano d’Abruzzo: Garnet red colour, intense and persistent fragrance, spicy (tobacco and wood)
    liquorice scent, fruity.
    Full-bodied, soft, balanced, intense and persistent, ready to drink at its release and also aged 4/5 years.
    
    
    Antonio Galloni for eRobertParker.com:-90pts
    
    "The estate’s 2005 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva Opi offers up blueberry jam, mint, spices and flowers in an intense, opulent style. The copious French oak works nicely here and serves to give the wine an attractive richness and volume that carries the fruit through to the fat finish. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2017"

  
  

  Canella

PROSECCO DI CONEGLIANO (a.k.a. CONEGLIANO VALDOBBIADENE) DOCG (DOC if bottled before August 1st, 2009): Conegliano has been called the cultural hub of the variety, and its historical nucleus. This dynamic city north of Treviso is also a national winemaking landmark, home to Italy’s most ancient winemaking school or Scuola Enologica (founded in 1876!). The family-owned hillside vineyards around Conegliano provide all the quality characteristics that have made this particular version of Prosecco so renowned. 100% varietal, from the finest exposures, the Charmat method sparkling wine’s youthful freshness, relatively low alcohol content and easy, crisp delicacy are ideal to sip and chat over with one’s friends in that convivial, friendly style that is the Canellas’ own. Brilliant straw yellow with fine, persistent perlage, fruity aromas of peach, apple, pear and citrus fruit, the palate gracefully balances zingy acidity and a subtle hint of sweetness, richness and silky-smooth texture. A delectable aperitif, the classic Prosecco versatility also makes it a fine accompaniment to the entire meal, particularly fish-based first courses, ray, caviar, prawns, and sturgeon. Notes: The Charmat process is repeated throughout the year in order to guarantee product freshness and quality consistency. The wine has been awarded numerous prizes both in Italy and abroad as one of the country’s best sparkling wines.

 
Cheers !