When two brothers, Aldo and Paolo Rametta, joined forces in the summertime of 2020 to begin a household enterprise within the coronary heart of their homeland, Romagna, their ardour for wine and the area led them to success. Each have been born in New Orleans, Louisiana and raised between the USA and Switzerland; their careers as entrepreneurs within the renewable power sector afforded them extra alternatives to journey extensively. Lastly, in 2016, Poggio della Dogana was established and in 2020, Ronchi di Castelluccio was based. The Rametta brothers and their households at the moment are ensconced and thriving of their beloved Romagna.
Throughout a latest digital wine schooling and tasting expertise (wines despatched as samples) with Aldo Rametta, our group of journalists realized in regards to the two places, every of which exudes distinctive identities. That is an “superb area for folks and land – the coast, mountains, inland. We discovered the appropriate alternative,” started Aldo Rametta. Their purpose is to “revive a delusion of Italian oenology, taking on the problem of those locations with braveness and modern spirit.”
Paolo and Aldo Rametta – Photograph Credit score: Ronchi di Castelluccio
The Rametta Brothers Spearhead the Renaissance of Ronchi di Castelluccio
‘Ronchi’ signifies the tracts of land that have been initially a part of the Apennine woods “that have been manually torn with an archaic device known as ‘roncola.’ The thought of planting these single-variety and single-vineyard vines was primarily based on the realm’s distinctive location of an altitude of 253-411 meters above sea stage and its array of woodland vegetation. Having been a part of the ocean for tens of millions of years, the hills of Modigliana have an abundance of fossils. Soils are comprised of layers of marls and sandstones and micro zones provide optimum circumstances for the manufacturing of high-quality wines, regardless of the realm’s steep slopes and poor soils.
Traditionally, Ronchi di Castelluccio was “the primary high quality wine expertise in Romagna” with Gian Vittorio Baldi on the helm. He was adamant about planting completely different clones on completely different parcels much like the method in France used since 1800. Ultimately, because of enologist Vittorio Fiore and Remigio Bordini, agronomist, Ronchi turned the primary Romagna cru that supplied wines of premium high quality and the power to age. Quickly thereafter, Fiore’s household bought the vineyard and in 2020 the Rametta brothers assumed possession. They employed Bordini’s son to work on the agronomic and enological administration.
Now the historic vines have been restored and Ronchi di Castelluccio is present process a renaissance, of kinds. Please take a deeper dive into this fascinating story by clicking HERE.
Photograph Credit score: Ronchi di Castelluccio
Examples of this transformation could be skilled with sips of the property’s wines.
Not your California Sauvignon Blanc, Ronchi di Castelluccio Sottovento Colli di Faenza DOC Sauvignon Bianco 2022 is pure Romagna. Cultivated in Modigliana at 290 meters above sea stage on marl and calcareous sandstones with textured sand, this refreshing, flavorful wine “embodies the essence of the terroir that generated it because of the vines planted in 1989.” I discovered savory notes from starting to finish, salinity, dried leaves, herbs, trace of inexperienced grass and vibrant acidity. Ageing was for 9 months in used barriques and a minimum of 9 months within the bottle. Advanced with loads of physique, pair this wine together with your favourite dishes – it’s simply that versatile.
Contemporary and straightforward consuming, but with energy and finesse, Ronco Della Simia, Romagna Sangiovese Modigliana DOC 2020 is of Sangiovese from a single winery on marly limestone with sandy loam texture. Aldo Rametta remarked that “Sangiovese is the most effective interpreter of terroir” and I’ve to agree. Balanced and completely charming, the wine was aged for 9-10 months in allier, vosges, low toasted tonneaux and barriques with a minimal of 14 months within the bottle earlier than launch. Reasonable tannins and acidity offered a basis to a broad palate boasting herbs, pink cherries, flint, violets, inexperienced tea, tarragon and Italian spices. Get pleasure from a glass of two with traditional Italian fare, seafood with sauce or roasted hen and potatoes.
Intense aromatics of blue florals, ripe black fruit, and forest flooring on the first whiff of Buco del Prete Romagna Sangiovese Modigliana DOC 2021 have been engaging. Of 100% Sangiovese Grosso (Romagna clones) grown at 300 meters above sea stage (the property’s lowest winery) on calcareous sandstones, this can be a daring, wealthy wine. Vinification included alcoholic fermentation in metal with 20-25 days of maceration on the skins. Aged for 12 months in giant 3000 litre French oak barrels with very low toast, additional ageing included at the very least 6 months within the bottle. This wine was a wonderful instance of Sangiovese from the area. Savory, rustic and stuffed with power, flavors included spice, black cherries, crushed blueberries all lifted with sensible acidity and agency tannins. Thanks, Nonna! I’d love extra of your do-it-yourself lasagna with one other glass of wine.
Aldo and Paolo Rametta Deal with Genuine Forms of Romagna at Poggio della Dogana
Aldo and Paolo Rametta began their first wine undertaking with Poggio della Dogana in 2017 once they bought an property in Terra del Sole; the property included a 20+ 12 months previous winery present process natural conversion. Now, the vineyard of 20 hectares is totally natural and licensed on the European stage. Plantings give attention to “consultant types of the Romagna territory” together with Sangiovese and Albana, a white grape. Biodiversity is a precedence and olive timber together with a small manufacturing of honey by an area beekeeper are evident.
9 hectares of vines are grown in Castrocaro Terme on wealthy soils of brown clay and ochre with parts of bromine, sulphur and calcium; the realm welcomes breezes from the Adriatic Sea. 11 hectares in Brisighella are on calcareous ochre soils that provide wines traits of salinity and pure magnificence. For extra about Poggio della Dogana, click on HERE.
Poggio della Dogana – Photograph Credit score: My Type of Italy
Ahhh, the wine. What a pleasure to style the Albana grape, a new-to-me varietal. Aldo Rametta shared that Poggio della Dogana Belladama 2022 is like “a pink wine wearing white” and “lets you already know that you just’re in Romagna.” Actually, the Albana grape was “nearly forgotten,” said Rametta. “We now have 1000 hectares.” Vinification was with out the skins by way of gradual conventional urgent in a vertical press. Fermentation occurred in stainless-steel; ageing was for five months on the tremendous lees and at a minimum of 2 months within the bottle. “The thought is to at all times promote the wine 12 months after harvest,” Rametta defined. What I discovered on the nostril have been refined notes of citrus, white flowers and savory herbs. On the palate, mouthwatering acidity, lemon peel, spritz of grapefruit, sage and rosemary helped trend a beautiful wine good with seafood or white meats.
Aldo Rametta said that “the vineyard and wines are a part of our lives. We hyperlink these wines with historical past.” Extra? “There isn’t a future with out respect for historical past: we can be brave, and we can be guided by goals and feelings.” In essence, the brothers’ love for household, friendship, wine and Romagna are mirrored of their intriguing story and wines.
Cheers! ~ Cindy
