Orsogna Luna Gaia IGP Terre Siciliane Grillo

Grillo has a particular importance in the production of Marsala, a fortified wine from Sicily, but it can also deliver delicious dry white wines. This biodynamic example from Cantina Orsogna is aged in tanks with four months on its lees to deliver luscious round aromas of lemon and white peach. The palate is delightfully expressive and full of texture with lemon zest, stone fruits and a herbal touch. This wine’s colourful label pays homage to the Sicilian puppet opera, a historical storytelling tradition in Sicily.

The mountainous Abruzzo region is situated halfway up the `boot` of Italy, neighbouring the Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and the less well known Molise region to the south east. Here the highly regarded co-operative wine company Cantina Orsogna was founded in 1972. The business today comprises 600 partner growers and covers almost 1,000 hectares of vines, of which 80% are organic.

Set in the scenic Majella hills of Abruzzo, just 15 kilometres from the Adriatic, its vineyards benefit from the significant day-night temperature swings and superb ventilation in the vineyards thanks to the fresh breezes that result from both its altitude and its maritime location. The estate was named ‘Italian Winery of the Year’ at Vinitaly 2012. The winemaking team is headed by the super-talented Camillo Zulli. The Elementa wines are certified Biodynamic by Demeter being produced according to Steiner's biodynamic methods. In addition, various preparations are used to feed the soil and plants and taking into account the position of the planets in certain activities in the vineyard. Also, life in and around the vineyard gets extra attention. The winery allows wild herbs to grow among the vines that serve as green champions, whilst also attracting natural enemies of harmful insects. Nature does her work, and the vineyard is indeed part of nature. 

Orsogna also support the activities of the WWF SOSLupo campaign to protect native wolves in Abruzzo and Calabria. The estate believes in sustainable relationships, as well as sustainable farming methods and choose to use traditional rope tie, as well as cork to seal their bottles. For this, they employ young people from the local community friendship farm. In the cellar, wines are either fermented and matured solely in stainless steel tanks in order to ensure the natural fruit expression is fully retained or, for the red wines, partly in stainless steel and partly in large oak 'botte' in order to harmonise the natural tannins.

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