Santa Caterina

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Traveling down the coast from Liguria to Tuscany, there's an interesting and often overlooked DOC that straddles these regions:  'Colli di Luna DOC,' or, "Hills of the Moons" DOC. Here the fanatical Andrea, who's usually silent and reserved as a New Moon, brims with Full Moon excitement when you get him started about the local Vermentino.

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If you enjoy Vermentino from Sardegna or from Liguria, the one from Colli di Luni is worth exploring. It's not as herbal as you find along the Ligurian coast, nor as rich as you usually find in Sardegna. It's kind of a half-way between the two: sweet herbs (think sage and basil), with just a hint of richness in the mouth (depending on the year). Andrea makes two versions, a fresh Vermentino and a more complex and structured 'Poggi Alti.' The later is the cru and is made from choice grapes which see a short maceration on the skins, making it more like a light red wine.

Distribution: USA


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Santa Caterina 's Wines

Santa Caterina 06 Poggi Alti

Tasting Notes: The 'Poggio Alti' is the cru bottling form choice grapes and some maceration of the skins, giving more structure, complexity, and a long finish to the wine. White peach and pear, hints of hay and sweet herbs (think sage and basil). the tannins and complexity of the wine make it more suited for richer dishes of white meat or elborate fish dishes. Also good with aged cheese and Ligurian vegetable tarts.

Vineyard: 16 year old vines, from the little known 'Colli di Luni,' Hills of the Moons DOC. Alluvial soil of red sand and clay. 'Poggi Alti' are the hilltops, which have the best exposure to the sun.

Vinification: In steel. Half of the grapes are pressed and vinified, the other half is left on the skins for 16 days; native yeasts; put together with light filtration.

Santa Caterina Vermentino

Tasting Notes: This Vermentino offers freshness and sweet herbs (think sage and basil). Great alone as an aperitivo or paired with most fish dishes. Shrimp and parsley spaghetti or swordfish steaks.

Vineyard: 16 year old vines, from a little known DOC on the Ligurian / Tuscan Border called 'Colli di Luni," or, Hills of the Moons. Alluvial soil: red sand and clay. Olive trees at the edges; plenty of direct

Vinification: Frementation in steel with native yeasts; light filtering.

Awards: Andrea doesn't wan this wines to get points, so we've respected that. LIMITED: 60 cases a year.

Santa Caterina 'Fontananera' Golfo Dei Poeti IGT

Tasting Notes: Merlot 50%, Ciliegiolo 20%, Canaiolo 15%, Foglia tonda 15%. A fun wine with a little compelxity. Smooth but not without some small red fruit. Drink as an aperitivo or use as a daily drinker.

Vineyard: From a small slice of land called Fontananera. Sandy, alluvial terrain with some stones, near the now extinct branch of the Magra river.

Vinification: Native yeast fermentation with brief (3 day) maceration on the skins. Fermentation and rests in steel before being bottled.