“Moments from yesterday and from centuries ago—
[. . . ] —they dwell in us,
waiting for a fulfillment.
I knew, always, that I would be a worker in the vineyard,
as are all men and women living at the same time,
whether they are aware of it or not.”
–Czeslaw Milosz, from “Late Ripeness.” Translated by the author and Robert Hass.
Walking among the hills that surround our home, always brings a sense of history and space. The orderly rowed vineyards and olive groves contrast with the irregular valleys and rolling hills that stretch off into the horizon. The Borgo of Castellunchio (a tiny medieval hamlet where we live) sits on a sort of plateau that is protected by the Tiber river below and deep valleys on either side. This made it an ideal location for an Etruscan city more than 2000 years ago. Later, the Roman used the hilltop to guard the river port of Palianum at the intersection of the Tiber and the Paglia (an important Umbrian river). Traces of the ancient port are still partially visible through the overgrowth at the river’s bend. From here, the Romans shipped the best of Orvieto and Umbrian wines down to ancient Rome and beyond.
A modern Orvieto white wine with historic roots
Orvieto and the surrounding area has a rich winemaking tradition dating back to the Etruscans and the Romans after them. The area is especially known for its white wines. In particular, the Trebbiano grape, which was probably brought to the region from the east by the Etruscans. Later, the Romans cultivated it widely, which makes it one of the most ancient Italian grape varieties. These echoes of history—the participation and preservation of a long established process—fascinate us. It’s also a reason that we love making la Poetessa, which is composed of seventy percent Trebbiano grapes. Trebbiano grows well in volcanic soil, which adds an elegance to its flavor profile. The grape holds a wealth of white fruit and subtle citrus on the nose and a minerality on the palate.
Grechetto and Malvasia grapes compose the remaining thirty percent of the wine. The Grechetto grapes add notes of herbal richness and structure to the wine, while the Malvasia grapes bring a richness of peach with subtle floral and citrus notes.
The winemaking process
After harvesting, we complete a soft pressing and then fermentation at a controlled temperature. We’ve also decided allow a maceration of 10% of the grape skins with the wine for the duration of fermentation. This allows us to extract greater structure and evolved aromas, which is especially important for the Trebbiano grapes to allow the complexity and richness of their flavors to come to fruition. We then age on fine lees with stirring for at least 6 months before bottling. The result is a well-balanced, full-bodied wine that drinkable, but also complex enough to carry through a meal and age well. The wine’s straw yellow color with golden reflections echo back to the early golden notes of the first Etruscan wines in the area.
The story behind the name & design
The wine derives its name from Hannah, who is by training and temperament a poet. It also speaks of a desire to experience the world with a sense layered connection, continuance, and story. This vision resonates throughout the poem “Late Ripeness” by Czeslaw Milosz, which partially inspired the beautiful wine label designed by our dear friend, Matthew Doll. The green and golden hues recall the ripening grapes, the fields’ colors, the sun reflecting off morning mist where the written words blur to embody, encompass, and echo—vineyard rows, Umbria’s rolling landscape, the ocean.
Our hope is that la Poetessa acts as a door or window of sorts—connecting the past and present, ancient and modern—to bring individuals together for conversation and company.
For, as Milosz writes,
“I was not separated from people,
grief and pity joined us.
We forget—I kept saying—that we are all children of the King.
For where we come from there is no division
into Yes and No, into is, was, and will be.”
