All about the Passerina grape

Before I venture off to the Abruzzo region next week on Vino Travels featuring a variety of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo I wanted to cover a lesser discussed white grape from the Marche region called Passerina. It’s overshadowed somewhat by Verdicchio when it comes to white grapes in the Marche so we’re going to show this grape some love this week. 

The Grape – Passerina 

Passerina is an ancient native grape found primarily in the Marche region of Central Italy, but is also produced in nearby Abruzzo, Lazio and Emilia Romagna to the north. The name Passerina comes from the Italian word, passero, meaning sparrow from the cardinal family. This grape was named after these birds due to the unfortunate circumstance that these birds love snacking on these grapes. Not so great for the wine growers. The suffix, -ina, means smaller referring to the smaller size of these grapes.  

Sourced from wine searcher

The Passerina grapes have thick skins and lead high sugars in the fruit along with high acidity. They’re a hearty grape that can endure wine growing challenges and they also produce higher yields. They have very floral and fruit driven aromatics and produce wines with ripe citrus fruits along with stone fruits, tropical and some herbal notes. They are dry, clean and fresh that are best enjoyed in their youth. You’ll find the Passerina in the Marche region have a sharper acidity and minerality where those found in Lazio tend to be more rich, ripe and a creamier texture. 

The appellation – Offida Passerina DOCG 

One appellation to note in which to find some of the best expressions of this grape is the Offida Passerina DOCG in the Marche region. This appellation is located in the southeastern corner of the Marche region close to the Adriatic Sea in the Ascoli Piceno province. It is named after the town of Office that is situated in the center of this territory amongst the Tesino and Tronto River valleys. Although this appellation does also produce Montepulciano and Pecorino it is most noted for it’s wines made from Passerina. 

The wines under the Offida Passerina DOCG must be produced from 85-100% Passerina grapes with up to 15% other local non aromatic grapes. Most producers you will find are producing these wines with 100% Passerina. This appellation originally was under the Rosso Piceno DOC established in 2001, but was separated to its own appellation known as the Offida Passerina DOCG in 2011. 

Although I don’t have a particular Passerina to share with you today I encourage you to venture out to seek out some Passerina to experience it for yourself.  

Don't miss an Italian wine blog ~ Subscribe

Liven up your palate and weekend with Pecorino

When I say pecorino is the first thing that comes to your mind wine?  Most likely you’ve heard more about pecorino cheese vs. Pecorino wines.  The Pecorino grape is an ancient grape that has been found in documentation since the 2^nd century BC and is believed to have been brought here by the Greeks.  It once faced extinction due to it’s finicky nature and low yields and was not favored over other grapes that were easier to produce at higher yields.  It was revived in the 80's thanks to Guido Cocci Grifoni whom brought Pecorino back to life and today is one of the great white grapes of central eastern Italy.

The Grape ~ Pecorino

Pecorino is mostly associated with the Abruzzo and Marche regions of central Italy, but you can also find this grape produced in other regions including Liguria, Tuscany and Umbria.  It’s a grape that favors higher altitudes with cool conditions including sun and fluctuating temperatures. 

Pecorino comes from the Italian word pecora, translating to sheep.  It is believed that this grape was named after the sheep that grazed in the vineyards of where these grapes were produced in what is known as the transumanza, when the shepherds were herding the sheep and migrating them south to Puglia.  Along the way the sheep munched on these fine grapes as a snack.  It’s even been said that due to the consumption of the grapes the shepherds would pay the farmers in pecorino cheese, hence the name.  Whatever story is true it’s fun to share while enjoying these fine wines.

Pecorino is a thin skinned grape that ripens early.  It’s a wine that tends to have high sugars, but is balanced by lively bright acidity.  It produces wines that are dry, crisp with floral aromatics that lend citrus zest, tropical notes, hints of herbs with a minerally sapid finish. 

A key appellation in the Marche region to experience Pecorino is the Offida DOCG in the Ascoli Piceno province.  

The Wines

A couple weeks ago I featured Cantina Tollo and today I'm sharing their 2022 Cantina Tollo Terre di Chieti Pecorino IGP.  This wine was pale yellow with tropical and citrus aromatics.  Crisp and lively acidity with lemon notes and a slight tartness to pucker up your palate.  ABV 13.5%

I also tasted the 2021 Cantina Valle Tritana Aufinum Pecorino Terre di Chieti IGT.  This wine is made from 100% Pecorino.  Pale yellow in the glass with a greenish tinge.  Aromas of lemon, tropical fruits including pineapple.  Light, crisp and airy on the palate showing mostly lemon rind.  This winery is named after the Tritana Valley in which it resides, which is at the foothills of the Gran Sasso mountains.  This area has a microclimate of warm days and cold nights.  Quite the value at SRP $14. ABV 13% 

Wines made from Pecorino will pair well with fish, shellfish and pork and even go well with Pecorino cheese!

Check out some of my prior blogs on other suggested Pecorino wines.

• Grape of the Sheep with Umani Ronchi Pecorino
• The autochthonous grape, Pecorino, and it's revival
• Pecorino? I thought we were talking about wine!
• The organic wines of Abruzzo with La Valentina

Don't miss an Italian wine blog ~ Subscribe

*These wines were provided as samples, but opinions are always my own.

Wines of Le Marche with Il Conte Villa Prandone

The Marche region is one of what I consider one of the lesser discovered regions of Italy.  Located in central Italy surrounded by the regions of Umbria, Emilia Romagna, Abruzzo and touching Tuscany and Lazio.  It’s located along the Adriatic Sea with hills and mountains that roll down to the sea.  This varied geography creates a unique microclimate.   Our Italian Food, Wine & Travel group this month is hosted by Linda of My Full Wine Glass as she takes us through the regions of Abruzzo and Le Marche.  I had the opportunity to taste some great wines from Il Conte Villa Prandone located in the Marche that I’m sharing today.

The winery – Il Conte Villa Prandone 

Il Conte Villa Prandone began in 1950 when Amilcare De Angelis planted about 17 acres for sharecropping.  The winery is in the medieval village of Monteprandone in the province of Ascoli Piceno in the southern part of Marche.  In 1988 Amilcare’s son, Marino, took over the business and established the name it is known as today.  He named it after his father, which they called the count or “lu kont” in local dialect.  Today Marino is joined by his three sons that help him operate the winery in all its elements.   

De Angelis family

The winery has about 123 acres of which 49 acres are leased.  The vineyards are located at 150-200 meters above sea level on southwest facing slopes. The average age of the vines are 30 years old with the oldest vineyards aged at 50 years old.  The soils in the vineyards are primarily clay and limestone.  The winery makes sure to reduce yields and practice thinning with selective harvesting to ensure a higher quality.  The goal of Il Conte Villa Prandone is to make wines with “fruit identity and drinkability”.  They produce about 250,000 bottles annually from primarily native grapes to include Pecorino, Passerina, Montepulciano and Sangiovese with other small lots of other grapes.   

Il Conte Villa Prandone practices several ways in which they practice sustainability including not using synthetic or chemical herbicides and pesticides.  They reuse waste material at the winery and are slowly converting to self-consumption of energy with their photovoltaic system.  They protect their biodiversity by preserving the flora and fauna within their environment.   They have a training program with the University of Urbino to share knowledge and propose agronomic solutions for their vineyard management and winemaking practices. 

The wines 

The 2019 Il Conte Villa Prandone Marinus Piceno Superiore DOP is a blend of 70% Montepulciano and 30% Sangiovese.  The grapes are softly pressed and fermented for 12-18 days preserved in stainless steel for 3 months before aging 1 year in oak.  Dark ruby in the glass the aromas were intense filled with blackberries and cherries.  This full-bodied wine had a rustic side with rich fruit of dark berries with moderate tannins backed by nice acidity with a little spice and lengthy finish.   This wine in 2020 was listed in Wine Spectator's Top 100 selections.  ABV 14% SRP $35

The 2019 Il Conte Villa Prandone Zipolo Marche Rosso IGP is a blend of 60% Montepulciano, 20% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot grapes. The grapes are fermented for 15-25 days and spent 16-24 months in oak with an additional 12 months in the bottle. Deep ruby color with purple hues. Aromas of blackberries, plum and raspberries with notes of vanilla. A medium bodied wine with juicy acidity, silky tannins and ripe fruits of those on the nose. ABV 14.5% SRP $42

The 2019 Il Conte Villa Prandone IX Prandone Merlot Marche IGP is made from 100% Merlot grapes from 25-year-old vines. This wine is only made in the best vintages in limited quantities. The grapes go through a slow fermentation for 25-30 days in concrrete and an additional 30 months aging between oak, concrete and amphora plus an additional year in the bottle. A deep ruby color with purple highlights. A rich nose of ripe raspeberries, blackberries, black cherry and violets. A wonderfully complex wine that was smooth and elegant with great fruit and acidity with a touch of oak on the finish.  For sure my favorite wine of the three with the two others close behind. ABV 14.5% SRP $114 

Join the rest of our Italian food and wine lovers group as they share their personal choices from the Abruzzo or Marche wine regions of Central Italy.  You can catch us live on Twitter to chat about wines from these regions @ 11am EST at #ItalianFWT.  Have a great weekend!

• Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm: “Welcoming Spring with Farinelli Rosé"
• Cam from Culinary Cam: “Frecantò di Verdure, the Marche’s Version of Ratatouille, with the 2021 Colleleva Lacrima di Morro d'Alba”
• Robin from Crushed Grape Chronicles: “Pecorino from Marche and Montepulciano from Abruzzo, exploring a bit of the wild lands of Italy’s Eastern Coast”
• Andrea from The Quirky Cork: “Pecorino Shines with Creamy Asparagus Pasta”
• Susannah from Avvinare: “Trebbiano d’ Abruzzo, A Perfect Sip for Spring”
• Gwendolyn from Wine Predator: “Cerasuolo from Organic Famiglia Febo and Biodynamic Lunaria Paired with Abruzzo Inspired Menu: Mussels and Saffron, Pecorino and Pasta”
• Cindy from Grape Experiences: “Uno Spuntino! Castorani Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Casauria Riserva 2015 with Grilled Pecorino Cheese Sandwiches”
• Linda from My Full Wine Glass: “Two Verdicchio stars in the Marche wine firmament”

*These wines were received as samples, but opinions are always my own.  Importer: Orvino wine imports

Don't miss an Italian wine blog ~ Subscribe