What better way to conclude the Introductory Course to the Wines of Lazio? A visit to one of the best Cesanese wineries, of course.
Together with master sommelier Andrea Pistoia, director of the course organized by Discoverplaces and Donna Vittori and a highly regarded instructor capable of captivating participants , we chose Michael Formigoni's winery in Affile (https://cantinaformiconi.it ), which is the starting point of the great Cesanese grape adventure.
We would like to recall the "Cesanese Enigma" , recounted in Piero Riccardi's book, which hypothesizes the arrival of this grape variety from the Middle East, brought by the monks of the Sanctuary of Valle Pietra. From this point, not far from Affile, it spread to the neighboring municipalities in this area between the provinces of Rome and Frosinone, and we are delighted.
We can therefore say that Cesanese is the true native grape variety of Lazio, unrelated to any other Italian grape. In these areas, it has found the ideal soil for producing excellent wines capable of expressing unique aromas and flavors.
Affile is a mountain village, and grape cultivation takes on heroic connotations. Michael welcomed us warmly and took us to visit some of his most "heroic" vineyards, where slopes can reach 40%. Our hero from Lazio.
None of the course participants or their families had any idea that mountain vineyards existed in Lazio. Certainly, those from Trentino are more famous, but I challenge everyone to taste our wines before commenting.
This is why the course on Lazio wines was created, precisely to introduce the flavors of our region and the unique tasting experiences that are second to none. Lazio wines are a true gem waiting to be discovered and are increasingly appreciated even beyond our region.
After the wine tasting, the diplomas and official photos arrived with those who managed to come to the winery, and we're sure we'll see each other again with other friends at one of Donna Vittori's new "Approach to Wine" evenings.
Follow us