An entry-level selection that immediately claims the plaudit of best-priced orange wine in the house. This is Falanghina with a mixture of the grapes direct-pressed (like a regular white) and some left to macerate on the skins (a la orange) leaving a golden glow and just a modest mouthful of grippy tannins. Ripe, quince-y stone fruits and smoky/nutty flavours jostle together in loose harmony. Very tasty stuff and such bang for buck.
Fattoria di Vaira is one of the largest biodynamic farms in Italy, with more than 500 hectares, 40 of which are planted to vines. Here in Petacciato (Campobasso), they cultivate vegetables, grains and cereals, and produce fresh cheeses, olive oil and honey. Grape varieties include Falanghina, Trebbiano, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. After several years of applying biodynamic practices, professional analysis, carried out by independent laboratories, shows that the nature of the soil has been restored, reaching a degree of purity similar to wild soil. This is a wonderful, very clean environment, with animals, fruit plans, cereals. Shepherds, farmers, cheese makers, vignerons all work in harmony on the farm. Soils are rich in sand and clay, and the climate is purely Mediterranean; a beautiful hillside estate in the Molise, with a view directly towards the Adriatic Sea, and the southern Apennine Mountains just behind. Farming is biodynamic. The farm uses green manure and cover crops, and compost from their own herb of cattle, as well as BD preps 500 & 501. All the grapes are harvested by hand in small boxes.
