A FOCUS ON... AIA VECCHIA

05/05/2021
From South Africa to France and now a short hop over to Italy... one of the many things we love about wine (now more so than ever) is its ability to transport us around the globe from the comfort of our own homes. And while the Italian PM has just announced that Italy will be 'ready to welcome the world' as soon as later on this month, many Italophiles will be understandably still be cautious and may want to wait a while before heading back to il bel paese.

Whether you fall into the camp of those booking trips abroad in an optimistic manner, or side with those gearing up for a week's camping in Devon, everyone can surely enjoy the wines of the outstanding Tuscan producer, Aia Vecchia - our May producer of the month.

'Aia vecchia' means 'old barnyard' and refers to a building in the centre of the winery, which was founded 25 years ago by the Pellegrini family (a later generation of which still owns it today.) The vineyards are located between Bolgheri and Castagneto Carducci in the world-famous wine region of Tuscany in central Italy. Their location allows them to benefit from both the weather-mitigating effects of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the high elevation and good exposure of the slopes they are planted on. They like to say they have 'two suns' - referring to the Italian sunshine we are all familiar with, as well as the mirror-like reflection from the nearby Mediterranean.

Most of the vines they grow in these areas are Bordeaux varietals (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc), but also some more traditionally Italian grapes such as Vermentino and some Sangiovese.

Here at Brompton Wine we stock three of Aia Vecchia's wines. They are already (as always at Brompton!) very fairly priced for wines from such a prestigious region, but for the month of May we are offering an additional 10% off to encourage you to add to your basket if you have not tried before. Tuscan wines are always excellent with food, so do make sure you're preparing something delicious and ideally Italian to go along with your bottle...

Lagone, IGT Toscana, 2017
If you are going to try one of Aia Vecchi's wines, let it be Lagone - their flagship wine, the first vintage of which was produced back in 1998. It's a delicate wine made using the traditional Bordeaux blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, grown using rootstocks that came directly from Bordeaux in order to ensure the quality. You'll find notes of cherry, vanilla, raw beef and herbs on the nose, followed by flavours like plum, ripe cherries, wild berries and a hint of spice. It really should be imbibed along with a meal but is quite versatile, and you could pair it with red or white meat or a hard cheese, perhaps in a traditional Tuscan dish?

Morellino di Scansano DOCG, Toscana, 2018
For those who prefer an Italian grape, this second red is 100% Sangiovese - the main red grape of Tuscany in general. This is a much warmer and juicier wine in comparison to the Lagone, smelling of bright fruits and peppery notes. The wine is full of soft, lazy tannins - reminiscent of sunny Italian afternoons - which balance out the vibrant ripe fruit. This would go well with some slightly lighter cooking - perhaps a starter of cold cured meat starter, fresh cheeses, or grain and tomato soup.

Vermentino, IGT Toscana, 2018
Lastly, a white. This Vermentino is a perfect spring or summer white wine. It's fresh and zesty with zingy citrus fruit; and has a creamy texture with plenty of balancing acidity and a lovely saline edge. There's also a wonderful aromatic quality courtesy of the 5% of Viognier blended in. This could easily be enjoyed on its own as an aperitif, or would go down a treat with some fresh seafood or a summer salad.