LUNA GAIA

2023 Chiaramontesi Nero d’Avola

For a grape that spent much of its history giving colour and muscle to everybody else’s wine, Nero d’Avola has done a pretty good job stepping into the spotlight on its own. For decades it was even shipped north to strengthen lighter wines in Tuscany, Piemonte and as far as southern France, while back home it was often blended with Frappato and other Sicilian varieties. Chiaramontesi shows why Nero d’Avola hardly needs the backup. Ripe strawberry and wild dark plum come first, then dark chocolate-covered cherries, and this little caramelized edge that makes the fruit feel almost sinful. There is tannin and plenty of body, but enough acidity to keep the whole thing juicy.
Italy
Red
Biodynamic Wine

Region:  Salemi, Trapani, Sicilia

Appellation:  Sicilia DOC

Varietal/Blend:  Nero d'Avola

ABV:  13.5%

Vineyard:  Grown around Salemi, in western Sicily, the vineyards sit at roughly 50 metres above sea level on medium-textured, calcareous soils. Farming is biodynamic and Demeter-certified, with spurred-cordon vines planted at 4,000 per hectare. Yields are around 90 q/ha, with the grapes picked by hand in mid-September.

Cellar: Spontaneously fermented in a stainless steel tank at 22–25°C with frequent pump-overs, then drawn off after 10–12 days. MLF also takes place in the tank, followed by six months of bottle aging before release.

CSPC:  156065

Winemakers Note: 

What the Critics are saying: 

A logo for vino al vino with a bottle of wine in the center.
LUNA GAIA
2023 Chiaramontesi Nero d’Avola

Region:  Salemi, Trapani, Sicilia

Appellation:  Sicilia DOC

QR code that takes the user to all the Italian wines of Vino al Vino
Italy
Red
Biodynamic Wine
For a grape that spent much of its history giving colour and muscle to everybody else’s wine, Nero d’Avola has done a pretty good job stepping into the spotlight on its own. For decades it was even shipped north to strengthen lighter wines in Tuscany, Piemonte and as far as southern France, while back home it was often blended with Frappato and other Sicilian varieties. Chiaramontesi shows why Nero d’Avola hardly needs the backup. Ripe strawberry and wild dark plum come first, then dark chocolate-covered cherries, and this little caramelized edge that makes the fruit feel almost sinful. There is tannin and plenty of body, but enough acidity to keep the whole thing juicy.

TECHNICAL INFO

Varietal/Blend:  Nero d'Avola

ABV:  13.5%

Vineyard:  Grown around Salemi, in western Sicily, the vineyards sit at roughly 50 metres above sea level on medium-textured, calcareous soils. Farming is biodynamic and Demeter-certified, with spurred-cordon vines planted at 4,000 per hectare. Yields are around 90 q/ha, with the grapes picked by hand in mid-September.

Cellar: Spontaneously fermented in a stainless steel tank at 22–25°C with frequent pump-overs, then drawn off after 10–12 days. MLF also takes place in the tank, followed by six months of bottle aging before release.

CSPC:  156065

Winemakers Note: 

What the Critics are saying: 

Giovanni Autuori
Calgary + Alberta South

T: 403-971-1898

E: giovanni@vinoalvino.ca

Joe Gurba
Edmonton + Alberta North

T: 780-203-5284

E: joeg@vinoalvino.ca

The logo for vino al vino is a bottle of wine in a circle.

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TECHNICAL INFO

Country:  Italy

Region:  Salemi, Trapani, Sicilia

Appellation:  Sicilia DOC

Climate: 

Altitude: 

Soils: 

Varietal/Blend:  Nero d'Avola

Fermentation:  Spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in old oak puncheons.

Ageing: 

Vineyard & Vine Age:  Bull Swamp and Manilla vineyards in Baw Baw Shire. The vines were planted in 1961 and and 1964 respectively.

ABV:  13.5%

Produced Cases:  50

CSPC:  156065

Calgary + Alberta South

Andrew Stewart

403-604-0408

andrew@vinoalvino.ca

Rajat Parr & Sashi Moorman in the vineyard

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Edmonton + Alberta North

Joe Gurba

780-203-5284

joe@vinoalvino.ca

Saskatoon + Saskatchewan South

Kerrie Gavin

306-290-0277

kerrie@vinoalvino.ca