CIÙ CIÙ
Marche, Italy
The Ciù Ciù farm was founded in 1970 by Natalino Bartolomei and Anna Maria Lobbi in the medieval village of Offida in Italy’s Marche region. Today the sons Massimiliano and Walter run the farm and winery. The name is pronounced “Choo Choo” which means to “Drink Drink”
Ciù Ciù is in the centre of the DOCG Offida production area and has a vineyard area of 150 ha plus 4000 olive trees, all of which has been certified organic since 1996. Farming excludes the use of artificial chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides and relies on cover crop rotations and low yields for quality.
Ciù Ciù is a champion of some of Italy’s smallest and often forgotten appellations like Lacrima di Morro d’Alba, Rosso Piceno and Falerio. Most of the harvests are still carried out by hand and indigenous grapes are favoured.
Vineyards are planted on hills ranging from 300m – 700m above sea level on clay mixtures. These wines see some filtering but are not fined and sulfur is kept low - impressive for such a large operation. Temperature control is relied on heavily in the winery. Additionally, the wines are certified vegan.
Oris
50% Trebbiano, 30% Pecorino, 20% Passerina – the 3 indigenous grapes of Piceno (south Marche). Grapes are chilled after harvest then direct pressed into stainless steel where the wine stays until bottling in April.
Arbinus
100% Verdicchio from young vines. Grapes are chilled after harvest then direct pressed into stainless steel where the wine stays until bottling in April. Arbinus is the latin name for a hot summer breeze.
Bacchus
50% Montepulciano, 50% Sangiovese. Grapes are chilled after harvest then destemmed. Maceration and fermentation for 30 days. 6 months aging. All in stainless steel. Bacchus is also known as Dionysus, the Greek god of wine.
Lacrima di Morro d’Alba
100% Lacrima Nera from one of the smallest appellations in Italy. Lacrima means “teardrop” in Italian and the grape skins often cracks open during ripening and teardrops of grape juice fall to the vineyard floor. Maceration and fermentation for 25 days. 6 months aging. All in stainless steel.
Retail
De Lucas
Ellement Wines & Spirits
Jones & Co. Wine Merchants
Kenaston Wine Market
Winehouse