Antonio Camillo has all the experience needed to produce fine and unique wines from unlikely grape varieties. For 15 years he worked as cellar master for Poggio Argentiera in his native Maremma. When he finally decided to make his own mark, he bought 5 hectares of vines planted to Sauvignon Blanc and old Ciliegiolo vines. The vines are ideally placed 300 metres above sea level on volcanic rocky soils.

Ciliegiolo is first documented in Italy in the early 17th century and is cultivated almost exclusively in the Tuscany and Umbria regions. However some pundits believe it originates in Spain and was described there as the 'Ciliegiona rossa tonda di Spagna', (the round and red grape of Spain). It is perfect suited to the warmth of the Maremma hills. 'Ciliegio' means cherry and the distinctive sweet cherry flavour is the grape's defining characteristic.

Normally this is a variety that is blended into Chianti to bolster Sangiovese's pale colour and add some immediate fruitiness. Antonio however has recognised the potential for something special and unique from this great little vineyard and has vinified his Ciligiolo 'in purezza'!

Tastiing Note: You will not find many 100% Ciliegiolo wines on the market but this wine certainly merits its creation. The bright vibrant purple colour entices the drinker and leads to a bubbly, lively nose of fresh cherry, raspberry and blueberry with notes of dried herbs and minerals. The palate is very fresh, youthful and prickly with the crunchy fruit balanced by elegant acidity and soft tannins. You could chill this wine happily in the summer to have with grilled lamb and good sausage with herbs. I drank it with cold 'affettato', spicy salami, olives and hard goat's cheese! This wine perhaps more then any other is quintessentially Mediterranean!

Type: Red

Varietal: 100% Ciliegiolo

Alcohol: 13.5% abv

Vineyard Location: 5 hectares of vineyards near in the area of Sovana and Pitigliano to the south of the Maremma. The vines are 300 m above the sea level.

Year of Planting: 1968