Sold Out
Controvento

Vino Rosso 2018

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

This is Montepulciano stripped of oak and winemaking intervention: dark cherry, black pepper, and an earthy, savory finish that comes directly from calcareous soils and Adriatic sea air. The zero-sulfite, steel-aged approach keeps the fruit vivid and the acidity alive, making it more energetic and food-friendly than most wines from this grape.

BodyFruitTanninAcidity
Black CherryPlumBlack PepperEarth
  • Style: Dry, medium-bodied red; ruby; dark cherry, pepper, earthy finish; 12.5% ABV
  • Grapes & Terroir: 100% Montepulciano; certified organic; calcareous-clay soils; Fosso delle Farfalle SIC, Rocca San Giovanni, Chieti, Abruzzo; 155m elevation; Adriatic sea breeze
  • Winemaking: Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts; stainless steel only; unfined, unfiltered; zero added sulfites
  • Serving: Serve at 60-64F; 15-20 min light chill recommended; light decant optional
  • Pairing: Lamb ragu, braised pork, aged pecorino, brodetto di pesce, Abruzzese cured meats
  • Similar To: For fans of Gamay and light-touch Sangiovese who want something savory, coastal, and zero-sulfite

Controvento Vino Rosso 2018 is 100% Montepulciano from Enzo Di Meo's 5-hectare estate in Rocca San Giovanni, a hilltop village on Abruzzo's Costa dei Trabocchi, sitting at 155 meters above sea level roughly 1 kilometer from the Adriatic. The vineyards, planted between 1998 and 2001, grow on calcareous and clayey soils inside the Fosso delle Farfalle, a protected site of community interest (SIC) in the province of Chieti. Sea breezes off the Adriatic cool the vines through the growing season.

Farming is certified organic with no synthetic chemicals used in the vineyard or cellar. Vines are fertilized with winter green manure only. Grapes are hand-harvested, destemmed, and fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks. The wine ages in the same steel tanks for a few months before bottling unfined, unfiltered, and with zero added sulfites at any stage.

The result is a direct, fruit-driven red that leads with dark cherry and ripe plum, underscored by peppery spice and a savory, earthy finish. The wine carries a slight natural effervescence and fresh acidity typical of Montepulciano grown close to the coast, where the maritime influence moderates ripeness and preserves brightness. At 12.5% ABV, it drinks with an easy weight without sacrificing structure.

Works well with lamb ragu over chitarra pasta, grilled lamb chops, or braised pork with herbs. The savory pepper notes also make it a natural alongside aged pecorino or a plate of local Abruzzese cured meats. Its coastal origins mean it can hold up to richly sauced seafood dishes like brodetto di pesce.

Wine details

Dry/Sweet:, Dry
Wine Type:, Red Wine
Wine Style:, Medium Body
Grapes:, Montepulciano
Farming:, Organic
Vintage:, 2018
Alcohol:, 12.5%
Country:, Italy
Region:, Abruzzo
Appellation:, Vino Rosso (IGT Terre di Chieti)
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

Controvento

Controvento is a 5-hectare estate in Rocca San Giovanni, a medieval village in the province of Chieti on Abruzzo's Adriatic coast. Vincenzo (Enzo) Di Meo runs the winery, which his father founded in 1978 after purchasing approximately 2 hectares of land and planting the first vines. The Di Meo family originates from Bacoli, in Campania. Enzo's grandfather had previously farmed in nearby Ortona from 1951. Over time, Enzo expanded the holding to 5 hectares. The vineyards are located entirely within the Fosso delle Farfalle, a protected site of community interest (SIC) where permanent hunting is prohibited.

The vineyards are certified organic. No synthetic chemicals are used in the vineyard at any stage. Vines are fertilized exclusively with winter green manure. The estate grows mostly Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, with smaller plantings of Fiano, Passerina, Malvasia, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Most vines were planted between 1998 and 2001, with one newer section of roughly 1 hectare added more recently. The vineyards face the sea on calcareous and clayey-calcareous soils and are cooled by Adriatic sea breezes.

Winemaking at Controvento is non-interventionist throughout. Grapes are hand-harvested and destemmed. Fermentation is spontaneous using only indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks. The wine is aged for several months in the same steel tanks. No fining, no filtration, and no sulfites are added at any point in production. Controvento is certified organic and operates as a fully natural producer.

Wine region

Abruzzo, Italy

Abruzzo sits on Italy's central Adriatic coast, bordered by the Apennine Mountains to the west and the Adriatic Sea to the east. The Apennines, which include Corno Grande, the highest peak on the Italian mainland, block weather systems moving in from the west, while the Adriatic moderates temperatures along the coastal hills. The province of Chieti, in the south of the region, accounts for roughly 75% of Abruzzo's vineyard area. Here the soils are predominantly calcareous clay, and the coastal hillside sites benefit from steady sea breezes that moderate summer heat and extend the growing season. Rocca San Giovanni, on the Costa dei Trabocchi, sits at 155 meters above sea level with vineyards facing the sea.

Abruzzo's two dominant grapes are the red Montepulciano and the white Trebbiano d'Abruzzo. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC, established in 1968, covers the region-wide red appellation and requires at least 85% Montepulciano. The Colline Teramane Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOCG, elevated in 2003, covers 30 communes in the northern province of Teramo and demands a minimum of 90% Montepulciano. Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo is a separate DOC for the deeply colored rosé made from the same grape. Wines produced outside DOC rules, as is common with natural producers who avoid sulfites and other required interventions, are labeled as IGT or Vino Rosso. The Terre di Chieti IGT covers the Chieti province and allows considerable winemaking flexibility.

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.