In 2016 from the passion of three friends for natural artisan wine, the Aurete biodynamic Winery was born. From the desire to bring to the limelight the territory of Esperia (name deriving from the Greek “Hesperos”), with its great wine-growing vocation.
The town of Esperia, perched on the top of Mount "Cecubo", a few kilometers from the Gulf of Gaeta, is located in a naturalistic oasis, the Natural Park of the Aurunci Mountains, between the sea and mountains where the cold currents of the Abruzzo National Park meet and the hotter ones of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Vines have always been cultivated here, a millenary tradition that originates in pre-Roman times and has continued to the present day.
The territory in ancient times was part of the Caecubus Ager "Formianum", a place of choice in the production of wine in ancient Rome, a favorite of Cicero who bought wine there while he went from Arpino to the villa of Formia and from the poet Horace who defined its vineyards "tonic vineyards". The orogeny is the result of tectonic movements that led to the ascension of rocky layers dating back to the Triassic and lower Giurassic period, as evidenced by the recent discovery of the footprints of Sauropods and Theropods in the vicinity of our vineyards. The high grounds of the area are famous among hikers and speleologists for the numerous caves, sinkholes and hypogea resulting from the karst phenomena characteristic of this part of the Aurunci Mountains.
The karst erosion of carbonate rocks has led to the formation of small "Monticelli" hills downstream from which the name of the small community in which our company is located derives. The soils have a reddish-brown color enriched in oxides due to the dissolution of surface rocks. The flourishing biodiversity, the sea breeze coming from Minturno and the particular orography that recreates a sort of natural amphitheater help to create perfect pedoclimatic conditions for viticulture.
The company consists of 4 hectares of vineyards of which 1.5 hectares make up the "Aurete" vineyard planted in 2018, 2 hectares the "Via Romana" vineyard and half a hectare the multi-centennial "Cariano" vineyard dating back to around 1840. .
The added value of the territory is the presence of numerous native vines (about 19 have been identified) among which the Raspato Nero and the Reale Bianca that we have recovered through a mass selection from centuries-old vineyards with the help of the expert nurseryman Marco Moroni stand out. and which in March 2021 were entered by Arsial in the national and regional register.
The first two years of the winery’s life were dedicated to the enrichment of the clay soils rich in minerals (in particular iron and magnesium) through the principles of biodynamics following the advice of Michele Lorenzetti and the preparations of Carlo Noro. Preparation 500, 501, biodynamic heap, green manure and manual processing made the earth alive and ready for planting the vineyards with the aforementioned native varieties and also Syrah. We apply biodynamic farming techniques to promote the development of soil microbiology and the formation of humus. We consider each vineyard as a small ecosystem where a balance between flora and fauna must reign, where everything is connected.
Our slogan which is "MEMENTO VITAE" remember life is a warning to always remember that what arrives in the glass has a genesis, it is created with earth, air, sun, water and human wisdom. Although it may seem like a paradox, we think that producing artisanal wine requires a higher technicality than conventional wine, it cannot be corrected, made, sweetened or mystified is an ethical and professional choice. From the first experimental vinifications it was evident that everything depends on the work carried out in the vineyard and the soil’s well being because in order to have excellent results it is necessary to bring healthy grapes to the cellar, when physiological ripeness, rich in nitrogen, to begin that magical journey that is the fermentation. Our wines are a mirror of the vintage, of the moods of our land, a reflection of the agronomic management and of the love for each single plant that has its own individuality and unique characteristic. In the vinification we go by the rule: “LESS IS MORE !!!”: spontaneous fermentation, pressing down, long maceration for the white grapes, batonnage, aging in amphora, decanting and nothing more. In our wines we seek freshness, fruit, territoriality, drinkability, palatability for the body, identity, adherence to the terroir.
We accompany the wine in the progress.
Natural winemakers, here's the information we need to register you on Raisin.
DESCRIPTION OF YOUR DOMAINE
Please provide the information about your estate including location, size, treatments used,
horses, tractors, harvests, etc. within 300-500 characters. This description will be added to your profile.
CERTIFICATIONS (ORGANIC, BIODYNAMIC) :
Please send us all certifications (organic, biodynamic, etc.). If your estate is not certified,
please explain why and describe your farming practices.
INFORMATION ON EACH OF THE WINES YOU PRODUCE:
wine name
color
grape variety(ies) by year(s)
appellation
sparkling
label photo (.pdf format - printer's proof)
volume of free and total sulfur
analysis of each vintage
Is your wine from Négociant activities?
PHOTOS :
a photo of you (the winemaker)
photos of the winery and cellar (between 6 and 12)