Wining Hour Feature: Castello del Terriccio Con Vento

The Tuscan wine region is known for producing some of the best wines in all of Italy, including the famed Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino. However, there are many notable white wines as well, such as Trebbiano and Vernaccia di San Gimignano. There’s so much more! Therefore, this month, I am featuring an Italian white wine: Con Vento. 

Con Vento is produced by Castello del Terriccio in Tuscany. Castello del Terriccio is situated along the Tyrrhenian sea, in the coastal area of Maremma, north of Bolgheri. The location of the property is very conducive for wine production due to the characteristics of the sand, silt and clay soils (which provide ample minerals, including iron and copper), the dew point, proximity to the sea and optimal exposure to the sun.

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Although its history dates back to the Middle Ages and modern history dates back to the first half of the 1900’s, it was Proprietor Gian Annibale Rossi di Medelana who inherited Castello del Terriccio in 1975 and devoted the winery to being a place of research, excellence and to the production of very high quality wines. Today the winery’s ownership is in the hands of his nephew, Vittorio Piozzo di Rosignano Rossi di Medelana, and they continue to produce great wines with both their indigenous and international grapes. In fact, Castello del Terriccio happens to be one of the largest winery estates in Tuscany, covering approximately 1500 hectares. Today, the winery produces 200,000 / 250,000 bottles a year. While Castello del Terriccio winery is definitely known for its awesome flagship Super Tuscan, Lupicaia, as well as its namesake, Castello del Terriccio, and Tassinaia, this Con Vento white wine should not be ignored. 

The Wining Hour Tasting: Castello del Terriccio Con Vento 2020 Toscana IGT

Con Vento, which means “Hill of the Wind”, represents the fresh sea breezes from the Mediterranean sea. This lovely white wine is made from an elegant blend of Viogner and Sauvignon Blanc grown in soils composed of stones and fossils. After harvest, the grapes undergo cold maceration for 24 hours, soft pressing and then aging without malolactic fermentation for 6 months on the lees. The wine is fermented and aged separately by grape variety in stainless steel casks and then blended and bottled.

Con Vento is straw yellow with a nose of white flowers and ripe fruit. Honeysuckle, peach, melon. The palate is the same, and displays a good balance of fruit and acidity. The Sauvignon Blanc keeps this wine fresh and fruity, the Viognier adds body. Complex, yet elegant with distinctive mineral notes and salinity due to the composition of the soil and the territory. This wine is fresh, with good structure. As both a salad and seafood lover, I was very happy to learn about Con Vento. While I did not pair the wine at this time, it was perfect on its own, as an aperitivo. Temperatures are dropping this time of year, but Con Vento made me feel as though I was sipping under the Tuscan sun. Castello del Terriccio‘s Con Vento proves to be a great choice when seeking a Tuscan white that is both refreshing and complex. 13.5% ABV.

Of note: Con Vento was first produced in 1985 and production is a limited to 4,000 bottles per year. Grab a bottle!