The SOMM Journal

October/November 2014

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34 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014 { spotlight on Italy } FRATELLI REVELLO LE VIGNE DI ELI In Italy with Marc de Grazia Imports In 2000, Marco de Grazia purchased Tenuta della Terre Nere, a farm on the north- ern slope of Sicily's active volcano Mount Etna and proceeded to produce beautiful and highly acclaimed Etna Rosso wines. In 2006 he began to produce Etna wines from small parcels with the Le Vigne di Eli label. This began as a true act of love for his daughter Elena ("Eli"). The two tiny, three-quarter acre, fine vineyards he acquired on the slope of the vol - cano reminded him of her—small and beautiful. Using Eli's drawings for the labels is a natural fit for the small production estate, as is donating a substantial portion of the proceeds to a children's hospital in Florence. Marco keeps the project very small, but is continuously intrigued by other small vineyards. By contracting only the ones of outstanding quality, he is able to release a few more fine wines, add - ing variety to the portfolio and quantity to grow the market a bit. Enzo and Carlo Revello took over their father's estate in 1990. Their vineyards, once belonging to the local parish, boast parcels in the crus of Giachini, Rocche dell'Annunziata, Conca dell'Annunziata and Gattera, from which four single-vineyard Barolos are made; a Barolo "base," a Barbera "base," a barrique-aged Barbera, a Langhe Nebbiolo and a Dolcetto complete the range of wines. The Giachini cru, although it is adjacent to the Rocche vineyard, yields wines with a very different character. Rocche dell'Annunziata is undoubtedly the most important cru, together with Brunate, in La Morra. Conca is a cru in the lower part of the Annunziata district of La Morra, yielding wines that are slightly austere and more similar to the wines of Serralunga and of Castiglione Falletto. The beautiful cru of Gattera, dominated by a large Lebanese cedar tree that was planted at the end of 1800s, was chosen by the brothers as the wines made from these vineyards—due to the soil, altitude and exposure—are suitable to be aged in large oak. In fact, the Revello's Barolo Gattera rests for 24 months in 15-hectoliter Slavonian oak casks. Viticulture here is sustainable, employing only sulfur- and copper-based products, and no insecticides. Grass is left between the rows of vines and every other year it is mowed in autumn and worked into the soil as green manure. Additionally, if you are travelling in the area, the estate is home to a delightful agriturismo farm resort. ern slope of Sicily's active volcano Mount Etna and proceeded to produce utiful and highly acclaimed Etna Rosso wines. In 2006 he began to produce Etna wines from small parcels with the Le Vigne di Eli label. This began as a true act of love for his daughter Elena ("Eli"). The two tiny, three-quarter acre, fine vineyards he acquired on the slope of the vol cano reminded him of her—small and beautiful. Using Eli's drawings for tural fit for the small production estate, as is donating a substantial portion of the proceeds to a children's hospital in Florence. Marco keeps the project very small, but is continuously intrigued by other small vineyards. By contracting only the ones of outstanding quality, he is able to release a few more fine wines, add ing variety to the portfolio and quantity to by other small vineyards. By contracting only the ones of outstanding quality, he is able to release a few more fine wines, add - ing variety to the portfolio and quantity to ing variety to the portfolio and quantity to ern slope of Sicily's active volcano Mount Etna and proceeded to produce tna Rosso wines. In 2006 he began to produce Etna wines from small parcels with the Le Vigne di Eli label. This began as a true act of love for his daughter Elena ("Eli"). The two tiny, three-quarter acre, fine vineyards he acquired on the slope of the vol cano reminded him of her—small and beautiful. Using Eli's drawings for tural fit for the small production estate, as is donating a substantial portion of the proceeds to a children's hospital in Florence. Marco keeps the project very small, but is continuously intrigued by other small vineyards. By contracting only the ones of outstanding by other small vineyards. By contracting only the ones of outstanding ern slope of Sicily's active volcano Mount Etna and proceeded to produce tna Rosso wines. In 2006 he began to produce Etna wines from small parcels with the Le Vigne di Eli label. This began as a true act of love for his daughter Elena ("Eli"). The two tiny, three-quarter acre, fine vineyards he acquired on the slope of the vol - cano reminded him of her—small and beautiful. Using Eli's drawings for Marco de Grazia at Terre Nere. Enzo and Carlo Revello.

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