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Our first release of this vibrant complex wine. Aglianco comes from the hills east of Naples and is recognized as one of the premier grapes of Italy.

Late harvest Vidal Blanc. Nicely balanced fruit, sweetness and acidity. Server with soft cheeses and fruit, cheesecake or fruit tart.

FRANCESCO, is produced from our exceptional Cabernet Franc grapes picked at the peak of their maturity. Our high elevation and proximity to the Blue Ridge rewards us with hot days and very cool nights. As a result, grapes retain their acidity while maturing their tannins. The wine is full of ripe cherry and raspberry flavors with a hint of oak and a pronounced smoky nose. Beginning with the 2002 vintage, we will have two distinct bottlings of this wine. The first, "Ballerina" named after the divided canopy growth conditions, routinely produces high yields per vine with rich and intense fruit. In contrast our newer, high density plantings which produce only a third as much crop per vine, "VSP" emphasizes structure and definition seldom found in the grape outside of St. Emilion.

Lirico is produced in the tradition of the famous white table wines of Orvieto and the Veneto. The Vidal Blanc grape retains much of the character of the parent Trebbiano and we have utilized this to reproduce the clean, crisp body familiar in Northern Italian wines. Lirico, like all our white wines, is fermented in stainless steel under cool conditions to retain maximum varietal character. The resulting wine is dry, but well balanced, and matches pasta as well as seafood dishes and is robust enough to complement the spiciest of foods. This is definitely our favorite food wine!

Pinot Grigio is a real award winning wine for us. Currently we are producing one version of this famous wine, one that more closely matches the wines of Alsace and Oregon. This is a rich, full bodied and very complex dry wine, fermented in stainless and a wine well matched to pasta and seafood dishes. Steve the wine grower, prefers this wine to all others for mouth feel and pleasure in the glass. As our new plantings of this grape come on line, we will also produce a Pinot Grigio more closely styled after the crisp, steely versions popularized by the wines of the Veneto.

PRIMITIVO is our most prized posession, being to date, the only significant East Coast planting of this Southern Italian variety. Recently identified as a "twin" of Zinfandel, Primitivo in our vineyard, produces the most amazing Italian red food wine. A rare combination of balanced acidity, tannins and fruit in the absence of oak. This is a wine that takes some time to mature in the bottle and will make a fine wine to cellar. Although closely related to Zinfandel, growing in Virginia it takes on the very Italian character of this grape and is not to be mistaken for a West Coast wine. It is very difficult to grow because of the tendency to burst following rain. In spite of this, we have committed 25% of our vineyard to this great variety.

SANGIOVESE is produced in the tradition of the famous Tuscan Chianti. We are probably the only producers in the USA that field-blend the three varieties of grapes to make a classic "uvagio". The Sangiovese grapes are co-fermented with the two white varieties, Malvasia and Trebbiano. Contrary to much of the popular press, this is not to dilute the red grapes with less expensive white grapes, but to add aromatic properties from the Malvasia as well as tannins from the skins of the white grapes. This is one of the rare occasions where white grapes are fermented on their skins! The grapes are fermented to dryness, racked to neutral oak barrels. The result in our hands is a smooth, medium-bodied red wine of intense aroma and mouth feel, ruby red in color, a true Chianti with a Virginia soul. A great wine, well suited to Mediterranean foods.

Simpatico is produced in the classical Tuscan style as a dry, intensely fruity and aromatic table wine. The Malvasia Bianca grape has the memorable spicy character of the Moscato and Gewurtzraminer grapes. The wine is a perfect match for seafood, light pastas but is a superb foil for Thai foods as well as rich, creamy cheeses. This really is a unique wine for Virginia!

TOSCANELLO is produced in keeping with the modern trend in Italy to blend Sangiovese, Primitivo with Cabernet. The two soft varietals, Sangiovese (25%) and Cabernet Franc (65%) contribute the intense tobacco, plum and herb characteristics: Primitivo, contributes a lively acidity and tannin structure. This medium bodied wine is ready to drink within 18 months but will intensify in complexity with aging. A perfect match for meats and pastas. This wine is consistently identified by professional wine reviewers as an authentic Italian red that complements most Italian cooking. It is also our personal choice for marinating game. Ask us for our venison marinade and reduction sauce with red currants!