Folicello Bianco Pet Nat 2023

Folicello began in the early 1980s when Marco and Antonella started making wine "almost for fun" in the Emilian countryside near Castelfranco Emilia, Modena. Their initial goal was simple: produce healthy, authentic wine for themselves and friends. Four decades later, that personal project has evolved into a certified organic estate recognized for uncompromising natural winemaking.

The winery occupies a modest property equipped with a modern cellar designed for efficient, minimal-intervention vinification. Marco and Antonella cultivate indigenous Emilia-Romagna varieties—Montuni, Pignoletto, Trebbiano, and Lambrusco Grasparossa among them—on composite soils of clay, silt, and sand typical of the Modena plains. When they began working organically in the 1980s, such practices remained rare and significantly more challenging than today. Their approach extends beyond EU organic requirements to encompass broader sustainability concerns: the winery operates entirely on solar-generated electricity, fermentation marc is repurposed for vineyard applications, and biodiversity is actively encouraged.

In the cellar, all wines ferment spontaneously with indigenous yeasts. No sulfur is added at any stage—not during fermentation, aging, or bottling. Wines remain unfined and unfiltered, reflecting the estate's philosophy that quality emerges from healthy vineyards rather than cellar manipulation. The Bianco Pet Nat exemplifies this approach: a blend of Montuni, Pinot Bianco, and Trebbiano fermented using the ancestral method, bottled while active to complete fermentation naturally in bottle.

Beyond wine, Folicello produces organic grape juice, jams, and vinegar—all reflecting the family's connection to rural traditions. Their daughter Irene joined operations in 2022, managing production, packaging, and warehouse logistics. This remains a family endeavor rooted in the belief that winemaking demonstrates harmonious coexistence with nature rather than commercial ambition alone.

Discover more from Folicello: Lambrusco Pet Nat, Lambruscone Pet Nat, Bianco Pet Nat Macerato. Browse best-selling natural wines.

Emilia-Romagna stretches across northern Italy from the Adriatic Sea westward to the Apennine Mountains, its fertile landscapes producing some of Italy's most celebrated foods and wines. The region's viticultural heritage dates to Etruscan times, with documentation of organized winemaking appearing well before the Roman era. Today, approximately 60,000 hectares of vineyards yield both sparkling and still wines in roughly equal measure.

The province of Modena, where Folicello is located, occupies the western portion of Emilia-Romagna near the Po River valley. Here, composite soils of clay, silt, and sand characterize the terrain, providing excellent drainage while retaining nutrients. The climate benefits from Mediterranean influences moderated by the Adriatic, delivering warm summers and mild winters conducive to extended growing seasons.

Lambrusco dominates Modena's wine identity—the sparkling red achieving international recognition, particularly for versions produced using traditional ancestral methods. Five distinct Lambrusco DOCs exist within Emilia-Romagna: Salamino di Santa Croce, di Sorbara, Grasparossa di Castelvetro, Modena, and Reggiano. Each showcases unique characteristics derived from specific grape clones and terroir variations.

Beyond Lambrusco, indigenous white varieties thrive in the Modena-Bologna corridor. Montuni (also called Montù), believed indigenous to the Po plains, produces light, mineral-driven whites with subtle floral character. Trebbiano Romagnolo accounts for roughly 30% of regional white production, while Pignoletto (Grechetto Gentile) has achieved DOC recognition for its elegant expressions. These varieties often appear in pétillant naturel sparkling wines, reflecting the region's long tradition of frizzante production.

Emilia-Romagna encompasses 21 DOC/DOCG appellations, with Albana di Romagna holding the distinction of Italy's first white wine classified as DOCG in 1987.

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