Producer

Castorani

Country

ITALY

Region of production

Appellations

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC, Abruzzo Pecorino DOC, Trebbiano d'Abruzzo DOC, Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOC, Rosso Colline Pescaresi IGT, Bianco Colline Pescaresi IGT

Founded

1999

Climate

Hot, sunny days and cool nights

Soil composition

Sedimentary clay soil

Vineyard

37 hectares owned, 40 hectares rented

Agriculture

Certified organic

Production Volume

80% red wine, 20% white and rosé wine

Varieties Grown

Chardonnay,

Ages of Vines

From 15 to 45 years-old

Behind the Wines

Jarno Trulli

Retired Formula 1 driver Jarno Trulli is best known for winning the 2004 Monaco Grand Prix. The decision to purchase a vineyard was an easy one for Jarno. He grew up watching his grandfather make small batches of home-made wine to stock the family cellar. For Jarno, Podere Castorani was a way to revive the family business. The 18th century estate had long been abandoned when Jarno, along with his father Enzo, and Formula One manager Lucio Cavuto, acquired it. Restoring the property was an immense source of pride for the families. Jarno leaves the winemaking in the hands of experts, focusing his talents on promoting the wines around the world.

From Formula 1 to fine wines

The Castorani estate dates back to the late 18th century. At its height, the property amassed nearly 200 hectares of rich, cultivated land. Upon the owner’s death, the land was divided, and the winemaking traditions were lost. Since 1999, the Trulli and Cavuto families have worked tirelessly to revitalize the vineyards using strict, certified organic methods.

Access the wines of this producer

“The wine world is totally different to Formula One because everything takes a long time, but the passion is exactly the same”. – Jarno Trulli

Ideal Vineyard Conditions

The Podere Castorani vineyards are situated 350 metres above sea level. The sunny site is exposed to cooling winds and sharp temperature decreases at night. These factors allow the grapes to ripen slowly and retain vibrant acidity. The soils are nutrient-rich sedimentary clay overlying a rocky subsoil which forces the vines to root deeply. In these conditions, the vineyards produce healthy, low yielding harvests of concentrated, flavourful grapes.

The Amarone of Abruzzo

Upon purchasing the estate, the Trulli and Cavuto families built an underground winery to take advantage of cool year-round temperatures and natural gravity flow. They called on their engineering friends from Toyota Formula One to help design a special humidity-control unit to dry their Montepulciano grapes; a practice more commonly seen in Valpolicella. At Podere Castorani, they feel that this appassimento process results in very fine tannins from the fully ripened grape seeds.

A Commitment to Community

The team at Podere Castorani is committed to doing their part in maintaining a vibrant local community. For over 20 years now, they have hired mainly young people, native to the area. “We strongly believe in them; their passion and will”. Giving young people opportunities to work locally is keeping the area alive.

Rich, Culinary Traditions

The Abruzzo region borders the Adriatic Sea. Freshly caught fish and seafood is a major feature of the local cuisine. Dishes of grilled, roasted or tartared shrimp, prawns, calamari, and tuna are the perfect accompaniment to Podere Castorani’s white and rosé wines. Lamb is a typical red meat in the region. The local lamb stew is an ideal partner for the estate’s rich, elegant red wines.