Lazio
Cori
Cincinnato is a medium sized Co-op founded in 1947 in the low volcanic hills south of Rome in the town of Cori. These hills are the first ones rising after the narrow band of coastal plain that is about 5-7 miles wide. They are therefore buffeted by cooling see breezes. Membership was restricted shortly after the foundation so as to maintain a relatively small size for a Co-op. In all, something a bit short of 270 hectares of vines are being farmed by the co-ops approx. 105 members. But they did something rather extraordinary for a co-op in this region approx. twenty years ago that is referred to the "Quality Project" and it has made them one of the best Co-ops in Central Italy. Their agronomists analyzed all of the vineyards, soils, exposures, vine age etc. and found that about 80 hectares were advocated to the production of superior grapes. These 80 hectares are treated differently as are the monies allocated from the grapes that come from them. Their owners are paid extra to produce less in these sites and with the help of the agronomists, they train and prune for low yielding quality grapes. These are the wines that we are importing and none from the other 170 Hectares.
The autoctonous varieties here are uniquely associated with these hills and include; Bellone, Malvasia del Lazio (aka "Speckled Malvasia" "Malvasia Puntinato" and Nero Buono. Other varieties are also grown and include Cesanese, Greco & Montepulciano. We are beginning with the wines that are most unique to this area around Cori but all of them are really quite good.