I Probi di Papiano D.O.C.

I Probi di Papiano D.O.C. 

Romagna Sangiovese Modigliana Riserva

100% Sangiovese, ABV 13.5%

The region: 

Emilia-Romagna is known for its elegant medieval cities, sun-soaked Adriatic beaches, and some of the best cuisine in Italy.  Bologna has its pasta and meat sauces, Parma its famed ham and parmigiano cheese, and Modena the world’s finest balsamic vinegar. This rolling, beautiful region is the home of the Italian sports car,  Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Ducati. 

The grape: 

Sangiovese is the heart of Emilia-Romagna’s red wine production. The most sought after Sangiovese-based wines have a balance between their fruit and earth components. The name Sangiovese comes from the Latin sanguis Jovis, meaning “blood of Jove.” The wines range from brick red to copper-tinged, and can be quite concentrated. It is the most widely planted grape variety in the country. The Sangiovese grape is generally known for bright red fruit flavors in medium-to-full-bodied wines with plenty of acidity

The LABEL:

Their wine labels are works of art! In this small ancient area of Italy there is an artisan tradition of “ironing” hemp cloth to make it soft and then printing it with traditional motifs.  The ironing machine is called a mangle and it is reminiscent of a large water wheel that a man walks in to turn the gears and cause the stones to press the cloth. The mangle has its origins in Mesopotamia. The machine’s original design required the strength of many men, but during the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci himself calculated the precise measurements and weights that allowed the mangle to be operated by one craftsman alone. In Romagna, the mangle has been used since the Middle Ages for ironing the crude, handmade fabrics of the era. You can see it at work in a short film, “The Mangle of Santarcangelo” which shows you a mangle that has been working since 1633.   The hand-carved and hand-printed designs are steeped in Romagna traditions. Villa Papiano uses these motifs on their wine labels. Highly recommend watching the video.  It can be found on you-tube.

The wine: 

First made in 2001. Deep red in color, delicately spiced nose of cherries and plums, supple, with fine tannic structure and a mineral finish. Winner of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence and the prestigious Tre Bicchieri award  every year since 2013