Tormaresca Pietrabianca Chardonnay Castel del Monte DOC

The grapes were given a soft pressing, and the must transferred into stainless steel tanks at a temperature of 10° centigrade to assist a natural static settling of the impurities. The Chardonnay went into small barrels where it fermented at controlled temperature. The wine then aged on its fine lees in oak barrels, during which time it went through a complete malolactic fermentation. The Fiano, instead, was fermented in stainless steel tanks in order to fully bring out its notes of freshness and crispness. In January the Chardonnay left the barrels for stainless steel tanks where it was blended with the Fiano.

Tormaresca is made up of two estates in different areas of Puglia: in the central, inland region of Castel del Monte they have Aglianico, and in the Salento peninsula of the extreme south-east, Primitivo and Negroamaro. Cabernet and Chardonnay are grown in both zones, giving the winemaker a broad palette from which to blend the very consistent entry-level wines.

Antinori only invested here in 1998, yet in that time Tormaresca has become a flagship of Puglian production: Pietrabianca is the Cervaro of the south, its freshness and elegance belying its hot-climate origins. All the vineyards are planted unusually densely, giving extra depth to the wines.