Raffaello Annicchiarico’s main principle as a wine producer is respect for the land and the vineyards: this guides him in running Podere Veneri Vecchio on a small farm in Castelvenere, near Benevento in Italy. In the vineyard, Raffaello does not treat with synthetic chemicals (no herbicides, no fungicides, no pesticides); he only uses plant extracts prepared from the vineyard, such as nettle, horsetail, garlic and others. Cover cropping is also employed, to enrich the soil and to encourage its natural fertility.

The elegant Bianco Tempo has a straw yellow colour with an aroma of flowers and ripe fruits. There are nutty and woody flavors and good balance. The Ciao Bella Ciao Agostinella is made from Agostinella a rare, ancient grape found in Castelvenere. It is macerated on skins for 4 days, fermented with its indigenous yeasts and aged in chestnut and cherry barrels. The nose is ripe with intense wildflowers and sweet citrus and the mouth is fresh, velvety and citrusy with a pleasant acidity and satisfying finish. Lastly, Il Tempo Ritrovato uses grapes native to Castelvenere. Its dense golden color comes from a long skin maceration that also gives its freshness, minerality and flavors of orange peel, cedar, and herbs.

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