Winebow Producer Book

Umbria , Italy

Winery Overview La Carraia was founded in 1976 by the Gialletti and Cotarella families. Riccardo Cotarella, one of the most respected authorities on the production and marketing of Italian wines, is the winery’s co-owner and winemaker. La Carraia, thanks to its broad and diverse portfolio, is able to satisfy the needs of casual, value oriented consumers with products like Sangiovese and Orvieto Classico, and the most demanding of collectors with their Fobiano. Location of Vineyard The winery owns a total of 198 acres located in the heart of the Orvieto Classico appellation. Of these, 172 acres are dedicated to the production of Orvieto Classico, while the remainder features Merlot, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Montepulciano. Winemaking Philosophy The year 1995 marked the first release of Poggio Calvelli, a joint venture between La Carraia and Winebow. This wine represents a new style of Orvieto Classico, one that is aged in small oak barrels. Tizzonero and Fobiano, the two top shelf wines produced at La Carraia, are known for consistent quality and overall versatility. These wines are excellent examples of Mr. Cotarella’s mastery with red grapes.

Umbria , Italy

Winery Overview Brothers Riccardo and Renzo Cotarella, introduced Vitiano in 1995 as a project of their famed Falesco winery. The two acclaimed winemakers sought to extend Falesco’s philosophy of striking a perfect balance between the tradition of native grapes and the versatility of international varietals. A fresh, fruit forward, authentic Italian wine, Vitiano offers exceptional quality and value perfect for everyday enjoyment with friends and family. Location of Vineyard The Falesco winery is located in southwestern Umbria, in the municipality of Montecchio. The vineyards are interspersed throughout the hills surrounding Orvieto – another municipality in Southwestern Umbria – and benefit from the volcanic terroir found in Italy’s mountainous center to the east. Soil, along with the most suitable characteristics for each of Vitiano’s three unique wines, is selected to achieve the balance for which the Cotarellas are so well known. Winemaking Philosophy The Rosso is made with equal parts of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese, production is limited to two kilos of grapes per vine to ensure consistent high quality from each grape. After a long maceration period, the grapes are pumped over and hand pressed. Once blended, experience malolactic fermentation in Nevers barriques. The wine is then aged for four months in stainless steel vats prior to bottling, where it ages again for three months. The Bianco - made with equal parts of Vermentino and Verdicchio is harvested in late September and then blended after separate crushing and vinification. The grapes of this blend thrive in the sedimentary clay soils around the Marciliano estate. Three months of aging in stainless steel vats is followed by one month of bottle aging. The Rosato - comprised of equal parts of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese, is a dry, medium bodied and refreshing wine, perfect for summer. After a brief period of cool temperature maceration, the juice is fermented for two months in stainless steel tanks to preserve its distinct freshness and bright color, then bottle aged for two months.

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