Monterodano, Orsi San Vito 2023

Monterodano is a white wine from Orsi San Vito, a small producer in Emilia-Romagna working with indigenous varieties and minimal intervention winemaking. This is made from 100% Pignoletto from the Monte Rodano vineyard, a local white grape that's been grown in the hills around Bologna for centuries.

The grapes are harvested at the end of August exclusively by hand in small boxes, then given a couple of days of maceration before spontaneous fermentation in concrete tanks without the use of selected yeasts. The wine ages for 10 months on its lees in the same tanks, followed by at least 3 months in the bottle before release.

Orsi San Vito farms organically in the hills around Reggio Emilia, where the clay and limestone soils give the wines structure and minerality. The result is crispy and fresh, with notes of white flowers, citrus, and wild strawberry. There's that characteristic Italian acidity that makes it so food-friendly, with enough character to keep it interesting.

This is Pignoletto at its most honest – no oak, no tricks, just pure expression of the grape and the Monte Rodano vineyard. It's the kind of wine that works beautifully with food – seafood, pasta with light sauces, grilled vegetables, or fresh cheeses – but has enough going on to enjoy on its own.

Orsi San Vito is part of a movement of small producers in Emilia-Romagna who are proving that the region can make genuinely interesting wines when the focus is on quality and terroir expression. Monterodano is a perfect example – straightforward, drinkable, and genuinely enjoyable.

Serve it well-chilled and don't overthink it. This is pure, honest Italian white wine at a great price.