Pievalta Tre Ripe Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore 2020
Winemaker Notes
Verdicchio’s long tradition as the Marche’s banner grape and its reputation as one of Italy’s greatest Italian white varieties is highly respected by the stewards of viniculture at Pievalta. Verdicchio production is centered in two place-name appellations of the Marche region: Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi and Verdicchio di Matelica. Pievalta terroir is located in the former, and the wines of Jesi tell the story of their microclimate and particular subzone. Pievalta’s young history was made possible by the vision of Silvano Brescianini (winemaker and Managing Partner of Barone Pizzini) who tapped enologist Alessandro Fenino to manage this ambitious project in 2002.
Pievalta refrains from conventional winemaking production, and has, since the outset, been farmed organically. In 2005, Alessandro also began conversion to biodynamic farming (Demeter certified since 2008) using legume cover crops between the rows and biodynamic preparations. In philosophy and practice, Pievalta aims to resurrect the spirit of their soils. Since 2009, all wines have been produced free of any animal additives.
Stretching along Italy’s eastern coast with neighbors, Umbria to its west and Abruzzo to its south, Marche is a region with a varying climate from north to south. Its coastal plains roll into hills that become the Apennine Mountains, which run the length of the country. The Marche's best red wines come from the grapes, Montepulciano and Sangiovese; the local Verdicchio makes refreshing, crisp and light whites.
One of central Italy’s classic white grapes, Verdicchio thrives in two distinct zones of the Marche. The best vineyards of Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi adorn hillsides a mere 20 miles from the Adriatic Sea. The vineyards of the smaller, more inland Verdicchio di Matelica, are at higher elevation. Somm Secret—Recent genetic discoveries have proven that the Verdicchio grape is identical to Trebbiano di Soave, Trebbiano di Lugana and Trebbiano Veltenesi.