Aglianico is the grape, and it is on the volcanic soils of the extinct volcano Monte Vulture that the vineyards are located. The potential from this region has always been known, but too often the grapes and the ageing have been let to go their own way, thick, over powering beasts glowering at you over the rim of the glass. They were impressive, even frightening, my poor head, my delicate liver, and if you were honest sometimes they were just a bit too fearsome. So a little levity with the old juice, a steady restraining hand in the fermentation tank, a “basta così” on the oak, and we have a modern vibrant wine than retains the typicity of the grape and region but is perhaps a little less of a mountain crazy if not quite an urban schmoozer just yet. 

Well this is kind of where it all began for us. But only sort of kind of. Or kind of sort of. You see this Grifalco is made by the Piccin who are Bianca’s sister and brother in law and it was tasting their wines which weren’t being imported into the UK that got Juliusz and Bianca thinking about a change of plan, let's import wine. So they did, but from the Piccin’s original wine, a Tuscan beauty, the Piccins have now moved far south to the remote region of Basilicata and the DOC of Monte Vulture. Better value land, more fun and independence and some oddly Byzantine politics,Italyof course, lead them to the change but their terrific wine making remains with them.