Santa Giustina Bonarda 2020 (750 ml)

Santa Giustina’s Bonarda is one of the absolute treasures of this unique region of Italy.  Although entirely made from Croatina grapes, the local word used for wine from Croatina is known as Bonarda (not to be confused with the actual grape Bonarda).  The young vines are hand-harvested and brought in immediately for a soft pressing, and slow fermentation in stainless steel.  No sulfites are used in the cellar, and the wine is only lightly filtered before bottling. Bright and explosive fruits with red currants, raspberries, and plums hit the palate while being backed by persistent and clean acidity and soft but grippy tannins. The overall balance and structure is full yet playful, calling for cured meats, pasta dishes, cheeses, and red meats.

Santa Giustina is located in the heart of the Colli Piacentini in the far northwestern corner of Emilia-Romagna. A perfect backdrop to what the estate calls their 'village' (a few 1000 year old buildings, a church from 870, and their wine-making facilities) is a series of perfect hills before the distant Alps. A 100 hectare property at 300m above sea level is theirs, comprised of many different crops, forests, vineyards, and a private game reserve. 30 hectares of organically farmed vineyards produce just over 70,000 bottles a year to create a wide range of wine from the local varieties. All viticultural and vinicultural practices are extremely natural in principal, as they find it completely unnecessary to intervene with the natural magic of the grapes they farm. In addition to their clean and pure winemaking philosophy, due to the entire family's allergies to sulfur, they choose to use no SO2 whatsoever in the winery, however they do use sulfites during harvest in the picking bins to prevent early fermentation. Simple and delicious juice is found in each and every bottle, and all are perfect for enjoying at the table.
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