Dominated by the intense green of the woods of Valnerina, in the green heart of Italy that is Umbria, on the border with the Nera River Park, the landscape you find yourself immersed in to reach the winery of Francesco Annesanti is characterized by a silent nature whose tranquility is interrupted only by the song of birds and the grunting of passing wild boars.
In this hidden and rugged place, the story of a young man takes shape, who, driven by passion and willpower, has managed, by betting on a territory no one believed in, to create a winery that made him the only winemaker in Valnerina.
A little more than a decade ago, Francesco started with the little he had: an old vineyard and a barn, both belonging to his grandfather.
From here, he initiated a work of patience and dedication. "I started by renovating the stable," he tells Retrogusti, "transforming it into a small cellar of about 80 square meters. And I recovered the varieties present in the vineyard of less than one hectare, replanting them little by little until reaching the current 7 hectares." What strikes about Francesco are his determination and consistency. Speaking with him, in fact, one realizes that from the first official harvest in 2014 to today, one is facing the same person with the same ideas and values from the beginning. From the care of the vineyard to the management of the soil, from vinification to bottling, everything is personally carried out by Francesco who has always been deeply connected to the land, a connection that, combined with his vision, allows the creation of wines that, expressing themselves with honesty and elegance, represent the territory itself.
The territory of Valnerina, which Francesco proudly promotes despite the many challenges over the years.
As for the vineyards, planted on clay and silt-based soils, they benefit from great temperature fluctuations and cool temperatures even in summer. Attention to detail is one of the strengths that contribute to the quality of the wines. It all starts with the plant where the producer ensures that the grapes are in the best possible condition before proceeding with the harvest and winemaking. "I prefer to mostly carry it out in steel, in addition to a small production in terracotta amphorae. No filtering is done," he adds, "nor any clarification, and the racking occurs only at the time of bottling."
Betting on an area, it was said. Among the grapes produced, the Grechetto could not be missing, among the typical vines of Umbria.
But not only that. Malvasia, Trebbiano, Pecorino, Barbera, Sangiovese, Merlot, and Pinot Noir in pure form and in blends give rise to characterful, distinctive, and elegant whites, as well as expressive reds that invite you to sip, just as their producer likes. A surprise are the Raspati, a white and a rosé, bottle-refermented with no added sulfites, fresh and pleasant, perfect for an aperitif.
Another peculiarity is represented by the use of amphorae. It all began in 2015. "Following a traditional vision of wine – says Francesco Annesanti – I started experimenting with the aging of some grape varieties in terracotta amphorae for about ten months, followed by a resting period in glass damask, creating a selected production of three labels: Colle Fregiara, Acqua della Serpa, and Piano della Torre. The first is made from Trebbiano, the second from a blend of grape varieties: Grechetto, Trebbiano, Malvasia, Pecorino, and Martone (another native variety), and the last one from Pinot Noir." This last one is the main subject of his experiments.
Intriguing and elegant wines emerge that encapsulate the very essence of Francesco's production philosophy, representing the dedication and passion of those who put their heart and soul into what they do. A story to listen to, a territory to explore, and wines to savor.
