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Blog: Pecorino | Grape variety



The exploration work for the almost extinct grape variety Pecorino dates back to about 1989. Historical documents show that its homeland is to be found in many wine-growing areas of central Italy, especially in the Marche and Abruzzo regions. The Pecorino grape variety was rediscovered in the ancient vineyards of mountain farmers, mentioning sites around 1000m above sea level. In the fertile valley areas it was probably replaced by much more productive grape varieties, such as Trebbiano and Passerina. The re-growing of the vines was initially done on an expeimented basis, small quantities were harvested and vinified. For some years now, experienced winemakers have also been aware of the particular characteristics of this grape variety and have been pressing from it one of the most unusual autochthonous wines in Italy. The careful raising of the grapes, coupled with gentle vinfication, make the winemakers forget their efforts in the end. The wine from these grapes impresses with depth, complexity and complexity, with years of shelf life and freshness. The latter is guaranteed not all of today's Pecorino wines, too many winemakers and wineries have now jumped on the bandwagon.

What does Autochthon mean?
The term autochthon comes from the Greek and contains the word 'chton' = earth. Autochthonous therefore means 'native to the soil', 'originated on the spot'. Autochthonous vines are therefore native varieties that have been cultivated for a long time in a particular growing area of a particular region. They have adapted to the soil and climatic conditions. They have proven that they give particularly good wine qualities in the area concerned.

The forgotten grape varieties
The old-established grape varieties, also called the autochthonous, led a shadowy existence for a long time, but one appreciates like everywhere the new. The search for the old vines is still going on, too much has been forgotten and many old vines proved unsuitable. One inevitably wonders how it could have come to this? Traditional things were often discarded without explanation. New techniques of oenology simply applied because they existed and because everything new is, at least superficially, good. The standardization of wine taste experienced a new flowering, this time with international grape varieties.

What if old familiar things were rediscovered?
In the recent past, relatively banal, oenologically more or less correctly vinified wines dominated, but they were without identity, because they all resembled each other. It was, among other things, the era of Pinot Grigio, mostly a characterless wine, its superlative was, the increase of Balanced, which simply meant boring and unpretentious. Wines whose freshness did not last nearly the first year of their life, but instead sparked the demand for the future wine, already in August. An ominous cycle began, the new wine was not yet born, the available wine was already reviled. The new wine was brought to the market faster and faster, with less and less shelf life, freshness and identity.

No sooner had the few winemakers who were re-cultivating the grape variety in order to press contemporary wines from it, their first vintages in the cellar - the hunt for the banalization of taste went into a new round. It was soon discovered that the wines could not be sold without consultation and, above all, not easily: Too complex and too little known is this white wine to this day. From now on, these no-name wines were improved: consistently with fat Chardonnay and/or with aromatic Sauvignon. Shortly thereafter, these new blends already found their way into the various DOC regulations (where the autochthonous for your part had to stand in line for a long time), because the prospect of commercial success was very tempting.

But the boom, which in modern times goes hand in hand with everything that is 'new' (and be it only new in the form of 'rediscovered') is over. Fortunately! What is left is a niche product, made from a grape that is not destined for the world stage. Today we are happy to offer you a small selection of artisan white wines made from this ancient grape variety. Wines that bear the signature of their winemakers. Wines that are unique and convince with fruit, minerality and good shelf life - and therefore do completely without 'complementary grape varieties'. 100% Pecorino, because anything else would be just cheese! - Gerardo


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Shop: Pecorino
´Collemura´ · Falerio Pecorino DOP 2021, Simone Capecci, Marken

Collemura · Falerio Pecorino DOP 2021, Simone Capecci


Simone Capecci, Marche
€ 7,95 jetzt € 7,50
10,00 €/L
´Mvria´ · Offida Pecorino DOC 2016, Simone Capecci, Marken

Mvria · Offida Pecorino DOC 2016, Simone Capecci


Simone Capecci, Marche
€ 49,95
66,60 €/L
´Fonte Cupa´ · Pecorino Colli Aprutini IGT 2022, Camillo Montori, Abruzzen

Fonte Cupa · Pecorino Colli Aprutini IGT 2022, Camillo Montori


Camillo Montori, Abruzzo
€ 12,95 jetzt € 11,99
15,99 €/L