The Aglianico grape variety was already known and cultivated during the Antiquity. Thanks to its exceptional wine-making properties it is one of the few vines suitable to produce superior quality wines.
Santo Stefano is the result of the accurate vinification of grapes grown on the Carazita vineyard which give this wine highly complex aromas and structure allowing an extremely long ageing.
Vine varieties: 85% Aglianico, 15 % Merlot
Production area: our vineyards located in Carazita, within the municipality of Luogosano.
Exposure and altitude: hilly land at 350 meters a.s.l. with a south-east exposure.
Soil type: clayey – calcareous
Vinification: grapes are picked when they have reached peak ripeness during the first ten days in November and are immediately taken to the cellar where they undergo a careful selection before being destalked. Grapes then undergo cold maceration to optimise the extraction of fruity and anthocyan aromas followed by a fermentation at a controlled temperature for at least eighteen days. When fermentation is completed the wine is placed in French oak barrels where it is left to age for nine months. Ageing continues in the bottle for a further three months.
Organoleoptic features: Colour : an intense ruby red.
Nose : aromas of black fruits, with a complex bouquet of spices, liquorice and a green note.
In the mouth: the tannins are present and soft, the wine is full-bodied and aromatic.
Food match: it is a good accompaniment to games, venison and mature cheeses.
Serve at a temperature of 18-20 °C.
Training system: Spurred cordon, Guyot
Yield : 70 ql/Ha
Production: 2600 bottles
Availability: January 2007
Alcohol content : 13% by vol.
Total acidity : 6
Residual sugars : 1,5 g/l
