Raised on the rough terrain of the Barbagia Mountains of Sardinia, Giovanni Battista Mesina moved with his family to Umbria as a child in search of more peaceful pastures, initially to watch over their sheep (Giovanni is a third-generation shepherd) and make cheese but now, Giovanni also makes cult status natural wines that are much-loved by people all over the world. Situated on the rolling hills of Pianello to the north of Perugia and covering less than three hectares, Giovanni raises his sheep on organic soil punctuated by ancient olive trees (from which he makes his own oil) and small rows of grapevines – a mix of typical red varieties of the region including cilliegolo, and his favourite white variety from Sardinia, vermentino. Produced in a strictly natural way with a minimalist approach in the cellar “to capture the magical expression of the fruit and the earth”, Giovanni’s wines are incredibly special, from the labels (all made from grass) to the juice itself: expertly balanced and superbly moreish.