The enchanting medieval village of Gradoli stands on a spur of Alta Tuscia overlooking the northern shore of Lake Bolsena. So technically it’s not in Maremma, but when it comes to Aleatico di Gradoli, technicalities don’t matter.
Aleatico is a wonderfully sweet red wine introduced to the area by the Etruscans who learned the secrets of winemaking from the Greeks. Legend has it that a demon lived in a cave just outside Gradoli. One day, the demon returned home and found a lion sleeping in his cave. He tried to wake him up, but the lion attacked and killed the demon. Only his staff remained and it turned into a vine. With eternal gratitude the locals put the lion and the vine on their coats of arms. The vine is now known as the Aleatico vine and is the wine of the same name.
THE WINE
The Aleatico di Gradoli received the DOC recognition in 1972. It is produced in Gradoli and Grotto di Castro, San Lorenzo Nuovo and Latera, all located on the shores of Lake Bolsena. Aleatico is found only in this part of the peninsula because it needs the almost perfect microclimate of Lake Bolsena to acquire its unique characteristics.
It is produced in three different types: Aleatico di Gradoli, Aleatico di Gradoli Liquoroso and Aleatico di Gradoli Liquoroso Riserva.
TASTING
GRADOLI ALEATIC:
Visual characteristics: Intense garnet red color with violet hues
Olfactory characteristics: Fruity and delicately aromatic
Taste characteristics: Soft, velvety and sweet. A minimum alcohol content of 12°
Food pairings: Perfect with hazelnut-based desserts, such as those typical of the Viterbo area, but also with dry pastries and red fruit tarts
ALEATICO DI GRADOLI LIQUEUR:
Visual characteristics: Intense garnet red with violet reflections
Olfactory characteristics: Particularly aromatic and delicate on the nose
Tasting characteristics: Soft, warm and sweet. The minimum alcohol content is 17.5° with a mandatory aging period of 6 months from the date of fortification
Food pairing: Fantastic as a meditation wine, it goes well with dry desserts, chocolate or hazelnut cakes and desserts made with red fruits
ALEATICO DI GRADOLI LIQUOROUS RESERVE:
Visual characteristics: Very intense garnet red color with a tendency to develop orange reflections with ageing
Olfactory characteristics: Strong aromatic aromas and characteristics of barrel aging
Taste characteristics: Round, sweet, more or less tannic, but extremely pleasant. The minimum alcohol content is 17.5° with mandatory aging starting from the date of fortification for up to two years in oak barrels with a maximum capacity of 250 litres. A minimum of one year of bottle aging follows.
Food pairing: It goes well with dry pastries, hazelnut and chocolate cakes and blackberry or raspberry tarts. Ideal with just a small piece of chocolate, especially if dark. Excellent as a meditation wine.
