Torre dei Beati Giocheremo Con i Fiori Pecorino Abruzzo 2020

The Italian province of Abruzzo lies just a few hours east of Rome, but this forested, mountainous region is worlds away from the capital's bustling streets. Over half of Abruzzo's territory is classified as either a national park or a nature reserve- earning it the nickname "the greenest region in Europe." Spread across this verdant canvas are numerous castles and villages that have been inhabited since the neolithic age. Grape growing is in this region's DNA- and fine wines have been crafted here for millennia. Perhaps the region's best-known grape is red- Montepulciano d'Abruzzo- which produces a juicy, high acid wine similar to Sangiovese. While these wines are ubiquitous in your local grocery store wine aisle, the invigorating whites from Abruzzo are a rarer thing indeed on this side of the Atlantic. So, when we recently tried a crisp, bright, Pecorino from a young Abruzzese couple, we were smitten.

Pecorino wine, you may ask? Isn't that a cheese I sprinkle on my pasta? Pecora is the Italian word for sheep, whose milk is used to make the hard, aged formaggio you know and love. Locals recount that the wine grape's name stems from this same source as the local sheep find the ripe clusters irresistibly scrumptious and will munch them right off the vine. Pecorino is an ancient variety mentioned in texts as far back as the Renaissance. But it was all but forgotten until Italian winemakers began taking an interest in rediscovering heritage and heirloom varieties within the last twenty years or so. Even with renewed attention, only 210 acres of Pecorino are planted in all of Italy. It is an early ripening grape that naturally produces low yields, and the resulting wines are stunning- floral, mouthwatering, and refreshing.

Torre Dei Beati, or Tower of The Blessed, is the estate winery of Fausto and Adriana Albanesi located near the picturesque hilltop village of Loreto Aprutino- which predates even the Romans. The estate's name derives from the steepled 14th-century church that looms beyond the vineyard. Since inheriting 40 acres from her father in 1999, Fausto and Adriana have nurtured the original vines on the property, planted in 1972, while successfully obtaining organic certification. The label features a drawing by the Albanesi's 5-year-old daughter, adorned with the phrase "giocheremo con i fiori." This translates to "we will play with flowers"- an apt name for a wine reminiscent of a garden of jasmine and honeysuckle in bloom. The Pecorino grapes were picked by hand, gently pressed, and the juice was fermented in 100% stainless steel.  Six months of aging on the lees results in a wine that is floral on the nose yet round on the palate. Star bright with light gold shades, the wine features aromas of citrus blossom and lavender, rounded by flavors of honey. This roundness is balanced with zesty acidity and minerality. There's a saying among sommeliers and chefs related to food pairing: "what grows together, goes together." In other words, the concept of regional terroir extends beyond wine to food- and like goes with like. A perfect example being the delicious Pecorino cheese produced in Abruzzo. Try this wine with a bowl of cacio e pepe- you'll thank the sheep later!