Sold Out
Fattoria Mondo Antico

Alma Croatina 2018

Price: $29.95
Enter your email address below to be notified when this product is back in stock.
Tasting notes

Alma is one of the rare single-varietal Croatina wines to make it to the US market, and it shows exactly what the grape can do when farmed carefully: violet-ruby color, aromas of black cherry and damp earth, and a palate that is juicy and full of red and black fruit with smooth tannins and a clean, slightly grippy finish. At under 3,000 bottles per year, it is a genuinely small-production wine from a family that has farmed organically since 2000.

BodyFruitTanninAcidity
Black CherryEarthBlackberryViolet
  • Style: Dry, medium-bodied red; violet-ruby color; black cherry, earth, juicy berries; smooth tannins; no added sulfites
  • Grapes & Terroir: 100% Croatina (two local clones); Guyot, high-density planting; limestone, calcareous clay and sand soils; 350m elevation; Rocca Susella, Oltrepo Pavese
  • Winemaking: Indigenous yeast fermentation in steel tanks; unfined, unfiltered; no added sulfites (<10 mg/L total); ~3,000 bottles/year
  • Serving: Serve at 60-62F; 15-20 min decant optional; enjoy within 3-5 years of vintage
  • Pairing: Salumi, grilled pork, pasta with meat sauce, braised rabbit, mushroom risotto
  • Similar To: For fans of Dolcetto and light-styled Barbera who want a lesser-known native Italian red

Alma is 100% Croatina from Fattoria Mondo Antico's 1.5-hectare vineyard in Rocca Susella, a small municipality in the province of Pavia in Oltrepo Pavese, Lombardy. The vines were planted in 1993 using high-density Guyot training and are composed of two local Croatina clones. They sit at around 350 meters elevation on limestone, calcareous clay, and sand soils, with a south-southwest aspect that supports even ripening into late October.

Farming is certified organic (Bioagricert) with integrated biodynamic practices. The Tiraboschi family has farmed this way since 2000, using animal and green manure in place of synthetic inputs. The vineyards are surrounded by woods that naturally isolate them from neighboring plots. Harvest is done exclusively by hand between late October and early November.

In the cellar, fermentation takes place in steel tanks using only indigenous yeasts, with no sulfite additions. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered. Total sulfites measure below 10 mg/L. Roughly 3,000 bottles are produced per vintage. The wine carries the De.Co. Rocca Susella denomination.

Croatina is the dominant red grape of Oltrepo Pavese, where it is also known locally as Bonarda. It produces wines with deep color, red and black fruit character, and a characteristic light grip on the finish. Alma shows a violet-tinged ruby color, aromas of black cherry and earth, and a palate of juicy berries with smooth, round tannins and lively acidity.

Croatina's combination of juicy fruit, lively acidity, and light tannic grip makes it a natural match for cured meats, salumi boards, and grilled pork. It also works well alongside pasta with meat-based sauces, braised rabbit, or risotto with mushrooms. Serve slightly cool, around 60-62F, to keep the fruit fresh and the tannins in check.

Wine details

Dry/Sweet:, Dry
Wine Type:, Red Wine
Wine Style:, Medium Body
Grapes:, Croatina
Farming:, Organic and Biodynamic
Vintage:, 2018
Alcohol:, N/A
Country:, Italy
Region:, Lombardy
Appellation:, De.Co. Rocca Susella
Bottle Size:, 750ml
Sugar Level:, Zero Added Sugar

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.


Important Compliance Requirements

FedEx and other carriers we might occasionally use can only deliver wine to customers who are 21 years or older. Someone must be at the address to receive the package, carriers don't just drop a package and leave. They must ensure the person receiving the wine is 21 or older.


Re-shipping a Package

If a package is returned to us after three failed delivery attempts, we can only re-ship the wine upon payment of a re-shipping fee, to be determined based on the shipping address and number of bottles. Shipping wine is extremely expensive. We are sorry about this, but we have no other choice. Please make sure there's always someone at the address you enter as your shipping address.

If you'd like to receive a refund for a package that was returned to us after FedEx made three delivery attempts, we can do that but we must keep a $20 refund fee; FedEx charges us a lot of money for returns, unfortunately, I can't stress this enough.


Re-routing a Package

If you'd like to reroute a package after it's been shipped, we can do so for a $20 re-routing fee. We cannot re-route a package across state borders. For any change of address, please contact us as soon as possible, ideally within 1-2 days from placing the order or we cannot guarantee we'll be able to reroute or change your order's shipping address.


Canceling an Order

If you'd like to cancel an order after it's been shipped, we can do so upon payment of a small cancellation fee – the amount depends on the size of the order. Carriers charge us a lot of money to recall a package en-route.


Heat/Frost damage

We are not responsible for heat- or frost-related issues. We offer ice-packs upon request. Please let us know if you think that there could be heat-related issues. If we don't hear anything from you regarding weather issues before an order is shipped, or if you don't request a hold due to the weather, we are not responsible for heat/frost damage.


Placed an order. What next?

1. You will receive an order confirmation email with your order summary.*

2. As soon as your order ships from the warehouse, usually within 2-3 business days, this applies to all shipping rates, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with your tracking information. 2DAY shipping refers to shipping time; we still need 2-3 business days to prepare an order. We need to pick and pack, QA, add printed collateral, and palletize the orders.

3. Please track your package using the tracking service.

4. The carrier will attempt delivery a maximum of 3 times. After 3 delivery attempts, your package will be sent back to our warehouse.**

*Please ensure your email address is correct; otherwise, you will not receive the order and shipping confirmation emails.

**If delivery is attempted 3 times without success, or if you fail to retrieve your package from the carrier depot by the stated deadline, the shipping fee will not be refunded to the customer.

Returns Policy

If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact us at (424) 414-2040 or via e-mail at hello@primalwine.com between 9 am and 5 pm Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Sunday, we would like to understand and try to solve your concerns. We can offer refunds only as store credit.

Producer profile

Fattoria Mondo Antico

Fattoria Mondo Antico was founded in 1990 by the Tiraboschi family and is located on the Pernione hill in the municipality of Rocca Susella, province of Pavia. The farm covers 26 hectares in total, of which approximately 4 hectares are planted with vines. The estate also operates an agritourism and raises cows, horses, and pigs alongside the vineyards. The property is surrounded by woods that isolate it from neighboring farms.

Dario Tiraboschi and his family formally transitioned to organic farming in 2000, notifying the Lombardy regional authority that all cultivated land would be managed without synthetic inputs. The estate holds Bioagricert organic certification and integrates biodynamic techniques including the use of animal and green manure. Vineyards sit at altitudes between 360 and 450 meters with a south-southwest exposure. The Croatina vineyard for Alma is 1.5 hectares, planted in 1993 using a high-density Guyot system with two local Croatina clones, targeting around 2 kg of fruit per plant.

Winemaking at Fattoria Mondo Antico is non-interventionist. Fermentation uses only indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks. No sulfites are added at any stage, with total SO2 measuring below 10 mg/L. Wines are not fined or filtered before bottling. Annual production of Alma is approximately 3,000 bottles.

Wine region

Lombardy, Italy

Oltrepo Pavese sits in the southeastern corner of Lombardy, south of the Po River, where the terrain rises from the flat Po Valley into the foothills of the Apennines. The zone is recognized DOC since 1970 and accounts for roughly half of all wine produced in Lombardy. Vineyards in the hilly interior, including those around Rocca Susella, sit between 350 and 450 meters elevation, with clay-limestone and calcareous soils that vary by sub-zone. The region sits on the 45th parallel, sharing latitude with Burgundy and Oregon.

Croatina is the most widely planted red grape in Oltrepo Pavese and is sold locally under the name Bonarda. Under the Bonarda dell'Oltrepo Pavese DOC, established as an independent appellation in 2010, Croatina must comprise at least 85 percent of the blend. The area also grows Barbera, Pinot Nero, Riesling, and Chardonnay. Pinot Nero is used both for still reds and for the Oltrepo Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG sparkling wine, promoted to that status in 2007. The De.Co. Rocca Susella is a local communal designation used by producers within the specific municipality of Rocca Susella.

Frequently asked question

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.

Signature on delivery is mandatory for wine deliveries. Please make sure someone is at the shipping address to sign for the package.

If applicable, please consider delivering the package to a business address to ensure someone is available to sign for the package.

We also have the option of delivering the package to a Carrier's store for pickup. Please reach out to us to coordinate.

Carrier will try to delivery a package up to three times before returning the package to us.

See here our shipping policy.

If you miss a delivery and a package gets returned to us we have two options:

1) Reship the package right away: due to the very high cost of shipping and returns, we must charge a re-shipping fee to be determined based on package size and shipping destination.

2) Consolidate the returned package with your next order: this option is free of charge and it's the most popular option.

See here our shipping policy.

This collection features our best selling natural wine from all around the world. It's the best place to start you natural wine journey! Browse one of the largest selections of natural wine available online in the United States.

Primal Wine Natural Wine Club is the best way to discover natural wine. Let us do the heavy-lifting, sit back, and relax. We will send you an ever-changing selection of natural wine made by top producers from around the world.

Our customers love Primal

I'm just copying and pasting from the hundreds messages we received, no pseudo reviews!
Erin C.

We love our membership so far and can't wait until our next shipment.

Jennifer B.

A note to say that we are loving the tasting notes sheet you’re sending!

James S.

I'm really happy to find Primal – your selections are terrific. 

Samuel M.

Love your company, always a great wine selection. 

Chelsea V.

I love what you guys do!

What Is | Primal Wine

What is natural wine?

Natural wine is a type of wine made in small batches from organic or biodynamic grapes with minimal intervention.
What Is Biodynamic Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is Biodynamics?

Biodynamic wine is wine made from grapes farmed biodynamically. Biodynamic farming is a holistic approach.
What Is Organic Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is organic wine?

Organic wine is made with grapes farmed organically. Organic farming is an alternative to conventional farming.
What Is Vegan Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is vegan wine?

Vegan wine is wine made without using animal products during the fining phase of the clarification process.