Country: Italy

Region: Abruzzo

Designation: Abruzzo DOC

Brand/Producer:  Cantina Zaccagnini

Grape Varietal: Pecorino

ABV: 13%

Type: White Wine

Code: 1925

Tasting Note

The wine presents with an attractive straw colour with golden glints. A floral aromatic bouquet of acacia and jasmine and hints of herbs leads on to a palate of white peaches. The high acidity tempers the grape’s natural sweetness making the wine refreshing and very food friendly.

Producer

In the heart of Bolognano, a small town in the Abruzzo region, Cantina Zaccagnini was established in 1978. Starting from a family-run business, the winery has grown rapidly and steadily with the goal of “absolute quality, from cluster to glass”. The company now has more than 300 hectares of beautiful vineyards, well-kept and monitored at every production stage. 

Marcello Zaccagnini, the dynamic director of the operations, has introduced sustainable ecologically-sensitive practices such as using minimal irrigation, reducing use of SO2 in winemaking and planting forests of oak to offset COs emissions produced by wine fermentation. 

“Tralcetto” refers to the piece of wood tied around the bottle, which is actually a cutting from the grapevine of the vineyard in Bolognano, Pescara. “Tralcetto dell’Amicizia”, literally means “the wooden stick of friendship”. Each tralcetto is hand tied on the bottle with locally sourced straw.

Winemaking

The Pecorino grape is one of the ancient grapes from the Abruzzo and Marche regions of Italy. It declined in popularity over time to the extent that it was thought to be extinct in the 1980s. However, some old vines were found and propagated with wine being made in the early 1990s.  

Since then Cantina Zaccagnini have taken a special interest in this ancient grape and have nurtered the vines to make the best possible wines. 

During winemaking, extra care is taken to preserve the wine’s delicate floral aromas. Gentle pressing avoids the tannic influence of skin and pips while fermentation takes place in chilled stainless steel tanks to preserve the fruit’s fresh flavours.

Fun Fact

The Tralcetto wines are a firm favourite in Harry’s Bar in Venice, one of the most prestigious venues in the city for wining, dining and celebrity spotting.

The name Pecorino means "little sheep" and is widely associated with Pecorino cheese, which is made from sheep’s milk. The grape is so called supposedly because it was hungry flocks of sheep used to snack in the grapes when they were being herded to new pastures. 

Food pairing

Ideal with appetizers and stronger flavoured seafood and white meat dishes. It is also suitable with spicy oriental dishes. It can work with a cheese board including Pecorino after which it is supposedly named.