Montecorneo - Sara Gallina

We are in Sant'Andrea d'Agliano, a small hamlet in the municipality of Perugia where the countryside still breathes. The main vineyard, on the valley floor, was planted by our grandfather in 1999, while the hillside parcels date back partly to 1970 and partly to 2000.

The vineyard is managed organically, with conservative pruning to reduce yields and restoration work on the older vines. We use green manure on alternate rows, which we rotate every two years, with a blend of field beans and grasses (to balance the soil's chemical properties) and 10% horseradish or phacelia for physical balance. We harvest by hand in the early hours of the day and process the grapes in the cellar as early as the morning. Aging takes place primarily in stainless steel and cement: we enjoy accompanying the grapes on their journey to become wine, creating the best possible setting and listening to their needs. We rack two or three times before bottling.

The principles of organic and biodynamic agriculture guide our vineyard management. None of our wines follow a pre-established winemaking protocol; we don't add ingredients to the grapes, but rather accompany them through their transformation each vintage. The must is a reflection of the open-air soil. We create the ideal setting for the grapes to become wine, allowing them to take center stage.