Le Coste Litrozzo Bianco 2024

Le Coste began in February 2004 when Gianmarco Antonuzzi and Clémentine Bouveron purchased three hectares of abandoned land near Gradoli—once a "garden" of vines and olives that had fallen into disuse. Both arrived with serious winemaking credentials, having worked for legendary French producers including Bruno Schueller in Alsace, Didier Barral in Languedoc, Dard et Ribo in the Rhône, Jean-Paul Thévenet in Beaujolais, and Philippe Pacalet in Burgundy. Gianmarco, a law graduate and trained sommelier, grew up near Gradoli and recognized the untapped potential of its volcanic terroirs.

The estate has expanded to roughly 14 hectares comprising vineyards, olive groves, chestnut trees, and oak forests. Vineyards are planted at densities up to 10,000 vines per hectare, including massale selections and ungrafted vines. While not officially certified biodynamic, their practices often exceed Demeter standards—copper and sulfur treatments, when used, remain well below permitted levels.

Clémentine manages viticulture while Gianmarco handles cellar work in an ancient building in Gradoli's village center. They use whole-bunch fermentation for all wines, including whites, and age primarily in fiberglass tanks. The cellar employs gravity for all transfers, eliminating pumps. Nothing is added during production—fermentation relies entirely on indigenous yeasts, and wines are bottled without fining, filtration, or sulfur.

The "Litrozzo" name playfully references the one-liter format, designed for casual enjoyment rather than formal occasions. These wines represent Le Coste's philosophy at accessible prices: uncompromising natural winemaking that remains eminently drinkable. Gianmarco has also championed indigenous Lazio varieties, helping rescue Procanico, Roscetto, and Petino from near-extinction.

Discover more Le Coste wines: Litrozzo Rosso, Litrozzo Rosato, and SOS Lago Bianco. Browse our best-selling natural wines.

Northern Lazio occupies a landscape sculpted by ancient volcanic activity, where Lake Bolsena—Europe's largest volcanic crater lake—dominates the terrain. The village of Gradoli perches on slopes descending toward the lake's northern shore, roughly 150 kilometers from Rome near the Umbrian border. This corner of Italy, known as Alta Tuscia, has cultivated vines since Etruscan times, yet remains largely unknown outside natural wine circles.

The soils here tell the story of eruptions that occurred hundreds of thousands of years ago. Rich in iron, volcanic ash, and minerals, they impart distinctive character to wines—flinty, saline qualities that set them apart from other Italian whites. The steep hillsides require hand labor, but vines forced to struggle in these demanding conditions produce concentrated, expressive fruit.

Lake Bolsena moderates the climate, creating conditions neither fully Mediterranean nor continental. Morning mists give way to warm days, while cool nights preserve acidity and aromatic freshness in the grapes. The surrounding forests and diverse ecosystem contribute to biodiversity that supports organic and biodynamic farming.

Lazio's broader wine identity centers on white varieties—Malvasia and Trebbiano dominate production for wines like Frascati and Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone. Yet the Gradoli area preserves indigenous varieties rarely cultivated elsewhere: Procanico (a local Trebbiano variant), Roscetto, Verdello, Petino, and Romanesco. Some producers, like Le Coste, have rescued these grapes from extinction, ensuring their survival for future generations.

A growing community of natural winemakers has brought international attention to this overlooked region, demonstrating that Lazio can produce wines of genuine character and complexity far removed from the bulk production that long defined its reputation.

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