2016 La Marca di San Michele ‘CapoVolto’ Verdicchio di Castelli dei Jesi

Region: Marche < Italy
Grapes: Verdicchio
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming, clay and limestone soils, fermented and aged on lees in stainless steel, no malolactic fermentation; bottled unfined/unfiltered with minimal SO2; 13% ABV
Winemaker: Alessandro Bonci, Beatrice Bonci, Daniela Quaresima

The sibling team of Alessandro, Beatrice and Daniela at La Marca di San Michele is way ahead of most of their neighbors, growing their six hectares of Verdicchio vines entirely organically, making the wine with basically no intervention, and bottling unfined/unfiltered with minimal SO2.  Castelli di Jesi, the Marche region where the Bonci family works, is nestled in the foothills of the Appenines just above the Adriatic Sea, where fresh sea breezes maintain acidity and add structure. The flesh and brine of this coastal Italian white makes us crave simple grilled fish with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon.  It is elegant and vivid with the weight and texture in the mouth for which Verdicchio is known, followed by pretty pink grapefruit, golden apple and salt. Sort of like a less-boozy, slightly appley Salty Dog cocktail – perfect for savoring on a Spring evening!