Aglianico (eye-yah-nick-oh) is native to southern Italy in the provinces of Basilicata and
Campania where it is known as the Barolo of southern Italy. Monte Volpe is one of a
handful of producers of Aglianico in California. It is a very difficult variety to grow here
because it buds out early, leaving it susceptible to Mendocino County’s harsh frost season
and it ripens very late so it is potentially ruined by our early rains in the autumn. This is
our 5th vintage of varietal labeled Aglianico.
This Aglianico is a very complex, rustic, full flavored wine. It is full of aromas and flavors
of ripe berries, plums earthy notes and smoky toasty French Oak. Big rich full tannins and
balanced acidity give this wine potential to be a great wine for many years of cellaring.
Dark purple-garnet in color with aromas and flavors of ripe boysenberry, smoky cherry,
spicy wood and earth, with ripe, full tannins and a seamless balance that carries through to
a long, lush finish
Food Pairing:
Enjoy with grilled steaks, pasta with forest
mushroom sauce and lamb chops with
rosemary sauce
Background
Aglianico (eye-yah-nick-oh) is native to southern Italy in the provinces of Basilicata and
Campania where it is known as the Barolo of southern Italy. Monte Volpe is one of a
handful of producers of Aglianico in California. It is a very difficult variety to grow here
because it buds out early, leaving it susceptible to Mendocino County’s harsh frost season
and it ripens very late so it is potentially ruined by our early rains in the autumn. This is
our 5th vintage of varietal labeled Aglianico.
Vineyards
The Bella Vista Aglianico vineyard is located above the Ukiah Valley on an eastern
benchland where the soils are shallow and a mixture of large rocks and clay allows the
water to penetrate right through the soil. 75% of the grapes for this wine come from our
Bella Vista Vineyard. This small 1 acre vineyard is 15 years old and produces less than 3
tons per acre. This vineyard is taken care of exclusively by Greg Graziano and his girls.
25% of this wine is Aglianico from our Vincenzo Vineyard located in the western
benchlands of the Calpella District of Mendocino County. This vineyard has been in our
family for over 104 years and the shallow rock laden soils, ideal exposure days and cool
nights, helped produce grapes with superb balance, concentration, and fruity aromas and
flavors.
Winemaking
In these vineyards, shallow rock laden soils, warm southwestern exposures and cool nights
produce grapes with superb balance, concentration and fruity aromas and flavors. The
grapes were hand-harvested at an average of 25 degrees brix on October 19th, 2019. After
crushing the grapes into small open-top stainless steel tanks, the must was cold soaked for
4 days and then punched down twice daily for 2 weeks during fermentation, before being
pressed off into French Burgundy oak barrels (60% new). After aging in barrels for 36
months, the wine was egg white fined, rough filtered and bottled.
Winemaker Comments
This Aglianico is a very complex, rustic, full flavored wine. It is full of aromas and flavors
of ripe berries, plums earthy notes and smoky toasty French Oak. Big rich full tannins and
balanced acidity give this wine potential to be a great wine for many years of cellaring.
Dark purple-garnet in color with aromas and flavors of ripe boysenberry, smoky cherry,
spicy wood and earth, with ripe, full tannins and a seamless balance that carries through to
a long, lush finish.
Winemaking Data
Harvest
Date: October 19th, 2019
Fermentation & Aging
Fermentation: 4 days of cold soak,
pumped over and punched down
twice a day for an average of 15 days
in stainless open top fermentors
Aging: 36 months in French
Burgundy barrels (60% new).
Wine
Blend: 100% Aglianico
Alcohol: 15.0%
Total Acidity: 7.3 g/L
pH: 3.44
Residual Sugar: 0.3% (dry)
Food Pairing:
Enjoy with grilled steaks, pasta with forest
mushroom sauce and lamb chops with
rosemary sauce.
