2022 Andrea Occhipinti 'Alea Viva' Lazio IGT

Alea Viva means "roll the dice" and it’s how Andrea felt when he went all on on the Aleatico grape and was the first to cultivate this variety on an export scale (which is still not all that much at 4,500 bottles per year).

Gradoli is on the northwestern shore of Lago di Bolsena, Europe’s largest volcanic lake. It functions like a bay, and affects the growing climate in its vicinity. This grape variety grows in this area near Bolsena and also the island of Elba off the shores of Tuscany. We like to categorize things and have definitive places for them, but when we get to border zones it’s best to remember that these modern day confines did not exist, and the Aleatico grape is considered native to the northern Lazio region as well as southern Tuscany. In fact, to recall the cultural connectedness of these areas-the entire northern Lazio zone, tip of Tuscany, and bordering Umbria- we would call it all Tuscia, as do the locals.

This aromatic red variety makes great sweet wines, but Andrea’s still red version is able to pull out some of the earthier aromas, perhaps due to the volcanic soils. In its best form, it is aromatic with a rosy and violet nose, but immediately followed by spice and in Andrea’s case, a dried / fruit roll-up leather quality which pleasantly offsets the perfumey aromas. Have fun with opposites attract food pairings with this wine, like stinky cheese, liver pate, lamb chops…