overview estate owned by: leonardo pizzolo wine region: abruzzo winemaker: luciana biondo total...

Overview

• Estate Owned by: Leonardo Pizzolo• Wine Region: Abruzzo• Winemaker: Luciana Biondo• Total Acreage Under Vine: 135• Estate Founded: 2000• Winery Production: 550,000 Bottles

Location• Located in the green heart of Abruzzi• The winery comprises 135 acres divided between the towns of

Popoli and Capestrano and dedicated mostly to Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.

• Situated inside one of Italy’s most beautiful national parks.• Marks the geographical border among the Gran Sasso National Park,

the Laga Mountains and the Majella National Park. • It is a green and wild paradise where deep gorges, lashed from icy

draughts, welcome various springs of crystal clear water which guarantee survival to the fauna saved from extinction.

• After a hundred years the guardian of this paradise is still the Marsicano wolf

• Valle Reale vineyards are on very thin soils, very rich in skeleton with a light base of clay and a slight sandy component.

• The proximity to the Gran Sasso and Majella massif and the altitude of the estate guarantee wide temperature ranges between day and night and summer and winter (that here is very harsh).

Location• The mountains create a natural, isolated and protected basin in the central part of

Abruzzi.• The social and economical changes, after the second world war, forced many

inhabitants of this area to move towards the coast for modern working opportunities. For these reasons a lot of old villages have been abandoned

• The absence of industrial activities and low density of the population have preserved the purity of the rivers and the lakes.

• In order to respect the environment Valle Reale grows only native Montepulciano d’Abruzzo grapes and no other international varietal that could “contaminate” the area

Location

the mountains

the coast

LocationVALLE REALEESTATE

La Majella Mountain2795 mt a.s.l.

Gran Sasso Mountain2914 mt a.s.l.

Location

VALLE REALE

The Valle Reale Estate

History

• After the Second World War, Giovanni Alberto Pizzolo decided to invest the savings he accumulated after many years as a farme, to buy his first piece of land.

• The agricultural activity began in the late 1900s with the cultivation of vegetables, but soon moved to growing tobacco.

• Giovanni Alberto was assisted by four of his sons, Augusto, Giuliano, Floriano and Giorgio.

• In 1998, Giorgio Pizzolo and his nephew Leonardo started cultivating an old vineyard on the property situated inside the Majella National Park.

History

• Valle Reale was founded in 2000 with the goal of producing world-class wines.

• The Pizzolo family, in close consultation with Professor Leonardo Valenti and the agronomic faculty of the University of Milan, are working to develop a model for central Italian wines and winemaking.

• Working primarily with the Montepulciano varietal, they aim to create wines that highlight the grape’s intrinsic qualities: strength, exuberance, vitality, color, elegance, balance and depth.

• The process begins with the careful selection of clones that are best suited to Valle Reale’s soil and climate.

Philosophy

• “The Other Abruzzi” – the Valle Reale estate is among those very few distinguished Abruzzi estates that produce distinctive wines of the native varieties that show the character and influence of its terroir.

The Vineyards

The Vineyard of Popoli•75 acres and is surrounded by mountains that line up like an amphitheate•1,155 ft. above sea level, at the beginning of the Peligna Valley, which is indicated as the place of origin of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.•It is in Popoli that the 20 acres of old vineyard (38 years is the average age of the plants) are found and trained to Abruzzi tendone system. •The soil is characterized by an important gravel matrix, with medium- and small-sized pebbles.The remaining part has a sandy loam soil. Generally, the soil here is therefore constitutionally meagre and poor.•The training system adopted for the new vineyards is the trellis training system, characterized by a high density of planting.

The Vineyards

The Vineyard of Capestrano•In 2003 Valle Reale planted 58 acres of vineyards close to the town of Capestrano, in the L’Aquila district, right below the old Castle of Capestrano. •Besides the mass selection of Montepulciano plants taken from the old vineyard in Popoli, they selected and propagated new populations of Trebbiano grapes in Capestrano.•This vineyard has a South-East exposure and is located at 1,485 ft. above sea level, in a very peculiar valley, known as “the oven of the Abruzzi”. •The high presence of gravels makes the soil profile of Capestrano very similar to the one in Popoli, although the matrix here is clayish rather than loamy. This allows a higher water holding capacity and therefore a better water supply for the plants during the hot summer months. •Also here, like in Popoli, we opted for a trellis training system with a high density of and wooden posts.

Owner

Leonardo Pizzolo•Born in Verona on May 28th 1969. •Received a degree in Economics.•His first experience in the family business was cooperating with Giorgio Pizzolo in the bottling company taken over in the beginning of the 90s.•In 1998, Giorgio and Leonardo started cultivating an old vineyard on the property situated inside the Majella National Park where the family has two of the most important trout farms in Europe.•Contacted Professor Leonardo Valenti of the University of Milan, in order to begin the research of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, rediscovering its ancient origins as a piedmont vine in a yet uncontaminated area.

Agronomist

Luciana Biondo•Agronomic Responsable for Popoli and Capestrano vineyards•Born in Verbania on the November 19th 1967. •Received a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture from the University of Milan in 1993.•Qualified to practice Doctor of Agronomy.•Started a co-operation with the Institute of Arboreal Cultivation in the faculty of Agriculture in Milan.•Provided technical assistance to wine cellars, at first through a “Consorzio di Tutela” in Lombardy and then through an Association of producers of Docg Ghemme and Gattinara.•In 2000, Luciana became agronomic supervisor of the estate Cottanera in Castiglione di Sicilia.•Since 2004, together with Giulio and Leonardo, she has been working on the great Montepulciano project in Valle Reale.

Winemaker

Carlo Ferrini – Winemaker•Born in Florence, he graduated from the Faculty of Agrarian Science at the University of Florence in 1978•Began an association with the Chianti Classico Consortium, taking charge of the organization's Technical Office in 1986. •Served as Technical Director of the Chianti Classico 2000 experimental research project, an assignment which allowed him to develop special competence in the selection of Sangiovese clones.•Today, Carlo is widely recognized as one of the leading experts on Sangiovese. •In 1991, he was admitted to the Academy of the Vine and Wine and the following year to the Academy of Oenology. •In 1992, he began his career as a free-lance consultant.•Has collaboration with Tasca d’Almerita and Valle Reale.•Received many awards and accolades for his wines in the authoritative Gambero Rosso Guide to Italian Wine.

Key Selling Points

1. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is the Quality/Price leader in the category in particular relation to the market competition.

2. Vigne Nuovo wines are excellent values, driven to retail and BTG3. Excellent press for the entire line, especially lauding San Calisto accolades4. Due to being located in a national park, no pesticides or chemical additives are

allowed5. Very versatile portfolio, the wines are great BTG and are food friendly

Building The Brand

1. One of the few Abruzzi wineries located west of the Mountain range, where the influence of the elevation, soil and temperature result in wines of greater structure and finesse.

2. The estate is comprised of older vineyards still maintained in the traditional pergola training and new vineyards that are planted with low guyot training.

3. Vineyards are cultivated with ultimate respect for the nature preserves surrounding the estate, hence no chemical additives of any kind are applied to the vines or soils.

Distribution Channel

On Premise: 50%Off Premise: 50%

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Varietal Composition 100% Montepulciano 100% Montepulciano 100% Trebbiano 100% Montepulciano

Competitive Set

La Valentina (Dalla Terra) $14Cataldi Madonna (Vias) $15-18Villa Medoro (Vinifera) $15-18Torre dei Beati (Artisan Wine) $17

Zaccagnini (VivaVino) $12-15Masciarelli (direct) $8-10Quattromani (Domaine Select) $11-12Capestrano (Vias) $11-14Farnese (Empson) $8-9Nicodemi (Morrtecastelli/North Berkeley) $11-12

Masciarelli $8-10Farnese (Empson) $8-9Nicodemi $11-12La Valentina $10-12Cataldi Madonna $13-14

Masciarelli "Marina Cvetic“ $28-35Valentini $210-280Emidio Pepe $60-80

Pricing

SRP: $18.99 Min. SRP: $16.99BTG: $12 Wine List: $35-40

SRP: $12.99 Min. SRP: $10.99 BTG: $8 Wine List: $25-30

SRP: $11.99 Min. SRP: $9.99 BTG: $7-8 Wine List: $24-28

SRP: $39.99 Min. SRP: $34.99 BTG: na Wine List: $75-90

Vigneto di Popoli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC

Vigne Nuovo Trebbiano

d’Abruzzo DOC

San Calisto Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC

Vigne Nuovo Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Cerasuolo DOC

• 100% Montepulciano • Cerasuolo, which means 'cherry red' in Italian, is a

voluptuous and powerful rosé version of the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC wine.

• Aromas of strawberry jam and wild herbs. This wine is medium-bodied and fresh, with layers of fruit flavors and a lingering finish.

• Perfect for summer parties, Cerasuolo is recommended with grilled tuna, swordfish, quail, white meats, or mixed pasta salads.

San Calisto Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC

• 100% Montepulciano d'Abruzzo • Offers layered aromas of ripe blackberries and

crushed black cherries, followed by spicy notes of cassis, leather, and Mediterranean wildflowers. On the palate, its firm structure is elegantly softened by its silky, rich mouthfeel.

• Pair this wine with barbecued ribs, fresh berry coulis, mint-roasted lamb shank, or steak au poivre.

Vigne Nuove Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC

• 100% Montepulciano• This youthful red offers explosive aromas

of blueberries, cherries, licorice, and sweet spices. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with plentiful acidity and a pleasant finish.

• This wine can be served before a meal, but it pairs well with meatballs, tomato sauces, eggplant parmigiana, and risotto ai funghi.

Vigne Nuove Trebbiano d'Abruzzo DOC

• 100% Trebbiano • This refreshing wine expresses enticing

aromas of citrus fruits, orange rind, white pepper, and fresh flowers. Zesty and crisp on the palate, it is well-balanced, supple, and incredibly food-friendly.

• Pair this wine with grilled chicken, ceviche, sushi, and even savory crèpes.

Vigneto di Popoli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC

• 100% Montepulciano • The nose offers opulent aromas of dark berry

fruit, spices, mint, and plums. On the palate, silky tannins and good acidity make for a rich and structured Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.

• Pair this wine with roasted poultry, Bolognese sauces, lamb tagines, and smoked ribs.