The Region

Le Marche forms the eastern seaboard of central Italy with the region of Emilia-Romagna to the north and Abruzzo to the south. The Marche region is adjacent to Tuscany, and about a 3 hour drive away. The region of Le Marche ranges from narrow coastal plains, to land that rises sharply above the peaks of the Appennines Mountains, which form a natural boundary with the regions of Umbria and Tuscany to the west. Domodimonti’s vineyards are located in Montefiore dell’Aso, in the Province of Ascoli Piceno. Montefiore dell’Aso was chosen over other areas of Ascoli Piceno because of its perfect growing conditions, its distance from noise and pollution, its hilly terrain, its southern exposure and its proximity to the Adriatic Sea. With its surrounding of vines, olive groves and the sea, from the winery’s hilltop location, the scenery is spectacular.Production process

The Winemakers

Making a fine wine does not only depend on the land, but a very qualified team of people is equally required. At Domodimonti, a great team of experienced and dedicated winegrowers and vineyard workers, winery staff, cellar chiefs, winemakers and agronomists, continuously try to improve the quality of what they do. From the vineyard workers to the pruning team and the winemakers themselves, everyone at Domodimonti has a very important role in the winemaking process. Without them, Domodimonti wine could never attain the unique flavors that render it exceptional.

The Harvest

The harvesting period for each type of grape differs from year to year; however, it usually occurs around the end of September to the middle of October. Four main vines are cultivated: Montepulciano, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese. The harvesting is done manually, which is a much longer process, but one that makes a difference in the quality of the wine. The bunches of grapes are then placed into small perforated crates to avoid crushing and fermentation. The grapes go through a process where each bunch is carefully examined, and only the best grapes that meet the family’s stringent quality standards are used for wine making. The discarded grapes are sold and represent about 70-80 percent of the total harvest. Therefore, only about 20-30 percent of the harvest is used to make the wines.

The Aging Process

The aging process is done in the cellar of Domodimonti’s winery. The wine ages in French oak barrels that are replaced every three years. Depending on the wine, the duration in barrels ranges from 6 months to 14 months. After which time, the wine is bottled and stored for another period of at least 6 months before being shipped to its various distribution centers.

DEJA V 100% Passerina

With an intense aroma, it features highly refined and subtly complex notes reminiscent of citrus and exotic fruits. Overall perceptions include a primary taste of raisins and a secondary fragrance from the alcoholic fermentation.

Déjà vu has a good general structure and alcohol balance, as well as a pleasant enveloping quality. Acidity is slightly perceptible and is well-balanced in the overall tasting experience. The aftertaste is pleasing and persistent.

Piccolo Principe 100% Sangiovese

Citrus aroma, especially lemon, blends with wild rose and broom, and an interesting and appealing bouquet.

Dry, with an assertive yet delicate flavor, with nutty tones, especially hazelnut and almond. Piccolo Principe shows the fresher, more harmonious side of the Sangiovese, resulting in a smooth, well balanced and enjoyable wine, which is best when consumed with fish dishes.

EPICENS

Picens is Domodimonti’s elemental wine. Its special varietal composition, a blend of Montepulciano, Merlot, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, is what makes this wine so engaging and alluring. Its aroma sends a sensation of red fruits, particularly blackberries, raspberries and black cherries. The wine’s attack is soft and round. Its evolution within the pallet progresses towards a moderately acidic impression, confirming its distinguished freshness and young age. The final savor emanating from the wine designates a long, intense and persistent essence without being overly angular.

Picens is an approachable wine that represents Francesco Bellini’s wife, Marisa. She is the caregiver of the family. She is simple and naïve at times, just like her wine. Picens is a delicate, lighter wine that is easily drinkable, and appropriate for any occasion.

The Bacchus represented on the label is a picture taken of a 200 year old fresco done by the artist Nardini, which is located on the front exterior wall of the Bellini’s apartment in the Old Town of Ascoli Piceno. It can be seen by the public at Piazza del Popolo (The People’s Square). Bacchus represents the god of wine and was viewed by the Romans as the supporter of civilization, a lawgiver, and lover of peace. He was also regarded as the patron deity of both agriculture and the theater. Marisa Bellini has chosen this picture for the label of Picens because of the powerful representation Bacchus has as the god of wine, and the connection that it holds with the Roman era of winemaking.

The name Picens originates from the Roman times. A part of the region of Le Marche which is now divided into five provinces: Ancona, Ascoli Piceno, Fermo and Macerata, Pesaro/Urbino used to be a part of the ancient territory Picenum. In Roman times, wine from Picenum was called “Picens”. In choosing the name Picens for her wine, Marisa Bellini wanted to bring a small part of history back; Picens, a name that was so frequently used but that was lost with time.

Monte Fiore Rosso 100% Sangiovese

Soft Ruby Red in color, this fresh and young wine is striking with its stately floral smell of roses and violets, mixed with delicate notes of plum and sour black cherry, characterized by a harmonious combination of light spicy flavours due to a short period of wood refining.

Monte Fiore has a complex structure and smooth gentle tannins, with a unique surprising freshness. Monte Fiore shows all of the Sangiovese grape characteristics, and pairs with meats, cold-cuts and cheeses.

Il Messia

Il Messia is a wine that is gifted with an assortment of aromas. Compared to Picens, Il Messia is more robust. This wine’s bouquet has a hint of mature red fruits granted its blend of Montepulciano and Merlot. Having revealed its first distinguishable aroma, Il Messia further divulges its spicy scented mix with a trace of vanilla, which originates from its duration in oak barrels and a long period of refinement in the bottle. After having aged a few years in glass, Il Messia’s perfume becomes delicate and mild, thus embodying the earthly talents of the territory.

This wine’s outermost intricacy, extraordinary papillary intensity, and persistency is a fine representation of Francesco Bellini’s sons Roberto and Carlo. Their strong and vibrant personalities always make their presence felt in any room they enter. For this reason, Domodimonti’s full-bodied wine, Il Messia has been dedicated to them.

The violin that outlines the label of this wine represents Antonio Stradivari, one of the most famous violin makers in history. His instruments are considered amongst the finest stringed instruments ever produced. To this day they are highly prized and are still played by world-class musicians. Carlo and Roberto have named their wine after one of the most famous of Stradivari’s violins, “The Messiah.” This violin remained in Stradivari’s workshop until his death in 1737, after which it was sold and owned by various collectors before making its way to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England. As a condition in the will of the former owner, the Museum can never allow anyone to play the violin. Today, the violin still remains unplayed and it is in its original state as when it was made in 1716. This has rendered it one of the most valuable Stradivarius instruments ever made. The wine has been named Il Messia as a symbol of perfection, similar to Stradivari’s violin.

Solo Per Te

Solo per Te, representing the two owners, is a beautiful, full-bodied Montepulciano wine. It represents the highest quality that can be made, for it is only made in exceptional years. Signed by Dr Francesco Bellini and Dr. Orlando Antonini, to signify their pride in their choice of wine and the latest exciting adventure for the two entrepreneurs.

The wine is extremely aromatic, with a very harmonious blend of flavors from grapes (sweet cherry, black cherry and blackcurrant), case wood ageing (vanilla, coconut, spices and tobacco) and bottle ageing (cedar, menthol).

The structure is striking, although perfectly counterbalanced by its smoothness and unusual core. The sweet tannins and the elegant balance of alcohol and acidity make Solo per Te a perfect wine to keep and savor over the years.