Fact Sheet - Empson USA

Abruzzo
Farnese
Fast Facts
Fantini Owner: Valentino Sciotti
Vineyard surface:
9,884 acres
(4000 hectares)
Owner:
Farnese Group
Winemaker:
Filippo Baccalaro
Consultant:
Alberto Antonini
Location:
Ortona
Province:
Chieti
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 Farnese (née Marguerite of Austria, an
Emperor’s daughter). In gratitude to the Farneses,
successive owners maintained the ancient name on
local labels.
Farnese wines, 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 state-of-the-art facilities covering
12.3 acres (3.2 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
three years, and 50 Slavonian oak barrels of 25 or 50
hectoliters’ capacity. Joint owners, Valentino Sciotti
and the late Camillo de Iuliis, describe the Farnese
philosophy in two words: Progetto Qualità, which is
a stringent series of quality criteria that provides 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, four of
whom had worked for some of the top wineries in
France and southern Italy.” These six 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 scene. For example,
we have commenced experimenting with select clones
of Australian Shiraz as well as varieties from Chile and
South Africa.”
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CASALE VECCHIO PECORINO IGT: 100%
Pecorino that undergoes soft pressing
and de-stalking, static clarification,
fermentation of the clean must for 20
days, at a controlled temperature of 53.6°
F, partial malolactic, and a brief sojourn
in oak. Lively straw yellow in color with
verdant hues, balsamic notes and aromas
of apples and pears; excellent body,
intensity and persistence. Pair with rich first courses,
white meat and cheese. Excellent with soups and
grilled fish.
CASALE VECCHIO MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO
DOC: 100% Montepulciano from a single vineyard.
The grapes are soft pressed and destalked before maceration on the skins
and fermentation for 20 days. Malolactic
occures in barriques followed by six
months’ of barrique age. Ruby red with
garnet hues, scents of dried flowers, spice
and licorice, structured, rich, full, fruitpacked and intense on the palate. The
cellar life is three to four years. Pair with
savoury first courses, such as meat and
grilled food. Excellent with seasoned cheese
EDIZIONE CINQUE AUTOCTONI: A blend of five
indigenous grapes from two regions, Abruzzi and
Puglia: 33% Montepulciano, 30% Primitivo,
25% Sangiovese, 7% Negroamaro, and 5%
Malvasia Nera. After 25 days’ maceration
on the skins, fermentation is in barrique,
where the wine ages for 13 months. Deep
garnet color, intense notes of cherry,
plums, ripe currant, tobacco; great body,
sweet tannins, velvety texture, followed by
a rich, long finish. The vintage is undeclared
on the label. The only numeric indication to
appear is a progressive number that is not that of the
vintage, merely the number of years since the wine’s
first release. The reason for this is that the blend’s
five grapes actually come from two different regions,
Puglia and Abruzzi. Thus, labeling regulations require
that this be an officially “non-vintage” wine. Pair with
red meat, game, and dishes with rich sauces. Also
excellent as a meditation wine.
OPI MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO
COLLINE TERAMANE RISERVA DOCG:
This is Farnese’s pinnacle Montepulciano
d’Abruzzo, from the Colline Teramane
appellation. From particularly small crops,
the grapes (slightly late-harvested) are
soft-pressed and macerate on the skins
for about 25 days, previous to malolactic
fermentation in barrique and barrique
élevage for 24 months. Ruby to garnet in color, the
nose is intense, with well integrated spice, tobacco,
vanilla and licorice; full bodied, round, well balanced,
rich, long palate. The cellar life is four to five years.
Pair with savoury first courses, such as meat and
grilled foods. Excellent with seasoned cheese.