Tenute Pacelli
Clara, Carla and Laura. These are the women of Tenute Pacelli, a small yet promising winery located in northern Calabria. The mother and her daughters have been managing it since 2010 with a great deal of passion and dedication, and each of these women plays a very specific role. Clara, whose roots are from the Istria region, is in charge of sales. Carla and Laura work from Milan to take care of communications and relationships with distributors. Then there’s Francesco, the father of the family, who has made smart business decisions that have allowed the winery to grow exponentially. Today, the Pacelli family makes six types of wines, each of which represents a specific “soul” of the winery. Riesling, in it still form (Barone Bianco) or as a spumante using the Classic Method (Zoe), is the product that best represents Clara’s roots.
Barbera and Cabernet, which are the oldest grape varieties, come together for one of the two reserve wines (Pauciuri), reflecting Carla’s desire that the history of the winery not be forgotten and that homage be paid to her uncle, the nobleman Gaetano La Costa, who was the first to make an investment in winemaking. Finally, there are the Magliocco Dolce and Calabrese (the native Nero d’Avola grape) varieties – vinified separately and brought together in the Temèso wine, which is aged in large French oak casks first and then in Borgognotta bottles. This wine reflects Laura’s desire to focus on the local area, trusting in its potential from both organoleptic as well as commercial standpoints.
YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW
The winery, which is located among the lush hills north of Cosenza and below the Pollino massif, was owned by the La Costa noble family of Calabria. Francesco Pacelli’s family on his mother’s side descended from this family of barons. The La Costa family had properties in the town of Malvito dating back to 1700, and this included an ancient Norman castle. The castle was later donated to the town, which renovated it. In the early years of the twentieth century, the family chose to use the estate, located in the Rose contrada just a few kilometres from town, as a rural residence. It was only in the 1970s that Baron Gaetano La Costa decided to plant grapes, choosing Italian wine varieties. Because he loved Chianti and Barbera, he planted Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Malvasia. More than 40 years later, this represents the oldest part of the winery.
His nephew inherited the estate after his death. Since then, this little gem has expanded. Here everything is taken care of down to the smallest detail: from the grapes and olives harvested by hand; to the production and sale of cherries; to the new cantina equipped with the most high-tech machines; to the nearby room for tastings and refreshments; all the way to the preservation of the old hunting lodge from the eighteenth century. The fundamental elements of the winery include respect for the terroir, organic farming and high quality. All of this is backed up by the cover cropping technique used, the very few treatment processes carried out in the vineyard throughout the year, the fact that we produce everything internally (this is why we are members of FIVI, The Italian Federation of Independent Winemakers), and our “farm-to-table” concept that guarantees sustainable consumption.
THE WINES
Terra Rossa, from Calabrese, Merlot and Magliocco Dolce grapes, is a balanced red, refined in steel tanks, pure expression of the high land of Calabria, which unites the Magliocco, main grape of the area, to selected Merlot and Nero d'Avola (Calabrese) grapes. (13%)
Barone Bianco is the result of determination of the Company in creating a wine that reflects the characteristics of the ‘terroir’, and at the same time, recalled the tradition of French white wines. From Chardonnay and Malvasia Bianca grapes, Baron Bianco is dry and tangy, fruity on the palate, with a fresh and delicate taste. Organic (13%)
Malvarosa, from Magliocco Dolce (90%) and Merlot grapes (20%), is a rosé with delicate hints of blackberry and cherry. Sapid and harmonious, it’s surprising for its decisive and enveloping character. Organic (13%)
Pauciuri is the jewel of Rose. Made from Barbera (60%, our oldest grapes) and Magliocco (40%) aged in oak barrels for at least six months, Pauciuri is then aged in bottle for more than a year. A structured and tannic wine, incisive and balanced on the palate, which releases delicate aromas of black cherry. Organic (14%)
Tèmeso is our first "reserve", rich with flavour and strong in the mouth. Made by 70% Calabrese alias Nero D’Avola, and 30% Magliocco Dolce, it’s one of our best reserve with Zio Nunù. (14%)
Zio Nunù, from the ancient vineyard of the Baron Gaetano La Costa, called Zio Nunù, is premium reserve made by Merlot and Cabernet, a sort of calabrian Bordeaux we use to call “bordo-calabrese”. (14%)
Zoe is a classic method sparkling wine, created with Riesling grapes. Rich of fruity tasting notes and with a very thin perlage, Zoe is powerful and perfumed. Organic (12,5%)
Eos, our passito made by Trebbiano, remind of the perfume of dried apricots and peaches. His grapes are dried on the vine and picked up manually. (15%)
