2009 Phitos Bianco, Azienda COS

I VINI ORANGE

Orange wines are the topic of the moment and are not Orange Muscat.

What are they really?

These unusual wines (made with grapes and not citrus fruit) are becoming popular especially among adventurous wine snobs and serious wine professionals. By allowing grape skins to macerate with freshly crushed juice, they are called “Orange) because of the rusty, copper and bright orange color because of the development of the fruit prolonged contact with the skins. I’m choosing among the many new artisans, led by the metical Josko Gravner, a wine from Sicily, 2009 Phitos Bianco by Giusto Occhipinti, Azienda COS. It is 100% Grecanico that has had 6 months maceration in large Spanish terracotta amphoras (400 litres) . It surprises for the freshness and purity of fruit, sensations of honey, mint and rosemary blend perfectly with my Fritto Misto and Stewed Calamari with Sicilian Olives and Capers.

Production zone and commune: area of Ramingallo

Grape variety: Grecanico 100%

Altitude: 230 metres

Soil type: medium consistency, rich in schelethon.

Training density: spurred cordon with the fruit cane 50 cm. high

Planting Density: 5000 vines/hectare

Average age of vines in production: 20 years

Yield: 60 ql

Harvest Period: september

Fermentation Equipment: anphoras 400 litres capacity.

Fermentation Temperature: no more then 30 °C..

Ageing period: 7 months