2019 Accadia 'Evelyn' Macerated Verdicchio

Region: Verdicchio di Castelli di Jesi < Italy

Grapes: Verdicchio

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Certified organic, some biodynamic practices, limestone and clay soil, fermented 30-40 days on the skins then aged on lees for 12 months before bottling, unfined and unfiltered, with minimal added SO2; 12.5% ABV

Winemaker: Angelo Accadia

Accadia is a small family estate in the heart of the Marche's Castelli di Jesi DOC (the higher elevation part considered to have the best terroir in the region).  Dad Angelo started the estate, and still makes the wine, but his daughter Evelyn is the one in charge: she runs the business.  They only work with Verdicchio, the most famous local white grape.  Since Verdicchio is all they do, they are kind of the experts here, and also make several different expressions of the grape.

This intensely orange wine is what Angelo calls a "return to the past for a new expression of Verdicchio -- wine as my grandfather did, macerated on the skins and unfiltered".   We love that he reminds us that a style that is very trendy in natural wine circles today is actually a traditional winemaking method in many parts of Italy.  And skin maceration really complements Verdicchio, serving to highlight the floral and juicy fruit qualities rather than subdue them with tannins and drying tea like notes.  Despite nearly 40 days on the skins, the "Evelyn' (named after his boss lady daughter) retains Verdicchio's varietal character, and somehow manages not to get too tannic.  The texture is nice and chewy, the acid vibrant and the fruit softly tropical and stone-fruity.  Don't let appearances fool you, this is a lovely, beginner-friendly orange wine that shines with food.