Climate change is in the news this week because of the meetings in Paris. It has been on the minds of vintners throughout the wine world for a long time as well. This week I have decided to write about some wineries that I know well that are serious about sustainable viticulture and vinification.

I had this wine for the first time years ago but also tried it again at Degustibus a couple of weeks ago.

Cerulli Spinozzi is a winery in Abruzzo that the Sartori family bought into in the early 2000s. The winery was started in 2003 and the vineyard lands were a merger of two properties – that of the Spinozzi family and that of the Cerulli Irelli family,
The winery produces wines made from indigenous varieties from Abruzzo such as Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Trebbiano d’Abruzzo and Pecorino. The grapes are organically grown. The Montepulciano d’Abruzzo comes from the area known as the Colline Teramane, Abruzzo’s Denominazione d’origine controllata e garantita (D.O.C.G.) wine, awarded in 2002.

It’s interesting to note that a modern, large group such as Sartori expanded its holdings in these areas and with properties that are interested in sustainable development and organically grown grapes. Sartori while not using organically grown grapes in all of its wines does have every certification on record, no small feat, for the entire winemaking process. One can hope that they are a symbol of what is to come for other large groups in Italy but that might be wishful thinking. In any case, Andrea Sartori’s international style has translated into a very innovative group without sacrificing tradition or territorial connections, a winning combination it seems.