NV Cirelli Wines of Anarchy Rosato Frizzante

Region: Abruzzo < Italy

Grapes: Montepulciano

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: certified organic farming; clay/calcium soils; Fermented in autoclave (Charmat method) then bottled unfined/unfiltered with minimal SO2: 12% ABV

Winemaker: Francesco Cirelli

Francesco would stand out as a rising star in any of Italy’s big famous regions, but in the decidedly non-shiny region of Abruzzo, better known for recent geological disasters (earthquakes, avalanche) than wine, his aura is almost blinding. Here is a farmer and winemaker who worked high-profile jobs in several of France and Italy’s famous cellars and could’ve rooted his own project anywhere, but chose to return to Abruzzo, his homeland, in 2003, buying a small estate just 8 km from the sea.  And he’s been challenging conventions and pushing the boundaries since he landed. His organically-farmed estate includes not only vineyards but olive trees, garlic, spelt, wheat, barley, figs, and geese – a complete ecosystem. In the cellar, he’s experimenting with amphora, adds nothing but tiny SO2 at bottling and basically lets his wines evolve as they wish. He’s trying to make authentic wine, not important wine - wine that is “a magic potion for joy and communion”, in his words.  

Francesco’s Wines of Anarchy project is made with purchased grapes from a friend and neighbor  whose vineyards are certified Biologico [organic]. ‘Anarchy’ is a nod to Guzzista Motorcycles and Sons of Anarchy, two things he loves. The wine is intended to be fun and as Francesco says, to “bring a little bit of anarchy into the day”. His fizzy rosato of Montepulciano that sports a tatted hipster label is most definitely this fun bad boy.  Bone dry, with lively bubbles and loads of juicy red fruit, this is a drink-all-day guzzler.