Ciavolich 'Divus' Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Abruzzo, Italy 2020

The Ciavolich family is an old family of wool merchants of Bulgarian origins who, to escape the advance of the Saracen invasion, took refuge in Italy in the town of Miglianico, in the province of Chieti around 1560. In the 1960s, from the inheritance division of Donna Ernestina, the family received the estate of Loreto Aprutino, in the province of Pescara, of circa 50 hectares. Here, Giuseppe Ciavolich planted Montepulciano, Trebbiano and Cococciola varieties. Nowadays, Chiara continues cultivating to pass on an ancient history throughout wine, a red thread connecting past, present and future.

• Winemaker: Chiara Ciavolich
• Farming: Sustainable
• Variety: 100% Montepulciano
• Terroir: Loam and clay soils
• Vinification/Aging: Divus was born in 1987 and tells proudly about the land where it comes from, the most ancient vines of the winery. The grapes are selected and harvested by hand and taken in the winery to be destemmed and crushed. The must ferments in steel vats under controlled temperature and following delestage and remontage are done. The wine is then transferred in old barrels and barriques where it ages for a year. Aging continues in bottle to then present a fresh, tannic, soft, bodied, mature wine that gets better with time.
• Tasting Note: Elegant hints of blackberries, raspberry jam, licorice, and black pepper. Mineral and graphite notes. Pair with grilled chicken, meatballs, polenta with sausage, or other heartier fare.