Attending a wine tasting at Fontefico is of the favorite experiences of our Guests - and certainly mine.
Fontefico is an organic boutique winery, overlooking the Gulf of Vasto, a 15-minute drive from us in the historic city center. I got to know the owner brothers, Nicola and Emanuele Altieri, three years ago when I had just opened Palazzo Florio. Happy to say, it was friendship at first sight. Since then, I’ve started a Sommelier training course, and my appreciation for this winery has only grown.
What makes Fontefico special, to my mind, is a combination of three things:
Nicola Altieri sharing the secrets of their organic wine-making. The wine bottle label art on the wall behind is by Emanuele Altieri.
The production philosophy. The estate grows, using organic methods, only native grape varieties, and every wine is a “CRU”. This means: a unique combination of soil, climate, altitude and the right variety, every element carefully selected to produce wines of exceptional quality.
The wines. Every Fontefico wine comes from a single vineyard, with unique characteristics. The result: a range of exquisite wines, each with its own character and identity, which you can also discover on the labels. Each wine has a name reflecting its personality, and a visual image illustrating the story of the vintage in question. Emanuele, one of the brothers, is the artist behind the label art.
Hospitality. The Altieri family really knows how to treat their Guests. The winery visits are both informative and entertaining. And the food-wine pairings … as I tend to say, music in your mouth!
The tasting practicalities
The wine tastings can take place either over lunchtime, starting at 11:30am, or in the late afternoon, “aperitivo time” at 5pm.
All set for a Fontefico tasting!
Either way, you first attend a guided tour of the winery, and learn a lot about organic wine-making, Abruzzo grape varieties, the unique characteristics of this terroir - and of course the Fontefico philosophy. Nicola and Emanuele are an endless source of wine-related stories and information. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve visited but I learn something new every time!
After the tour, you sit down with all the Guests at a long table overlooking the vineyards and the Adriatic sea. It’s a lovely setup, enabling you to share the experience with other wine enthusiasts.
The tasting features at least one
white, for example: “la Canaglia” Pecorino d’Abruzzo Superiore, a crispy wine with a dazzling color.
rosé, my favorite: “Fossimatto” Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo Superiore, with berry notes and and an unforgettable color.
red, such as “Cocca di Casa” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC, a smooth and soft wine with a deep color typical of our region’s best-known grape variety.
All tastings feature a sample of a Fontefico white, rosé and red.
At the end of the visit, you can also purchase some bottles to bring home with you. Alternatively, you can ask if it’s possible to ship them directly to your location.
If you’re staying at Palazzo Florio and would like to attend a tasting at Fontefico, I’m of course more than happy to arrange it, just ask! It will definitely be one of the highlights of your visit.
Anita among some red wine barrels in the Fontefico cellar.
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Cin cin!
Anita
Comments, questions?
Email me at anita@palazzoflorio.com
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