Cielo e Terra, Casa Defra, Barbarano, Colli Berici, DOC, Venezie, Italy, 2020

Producer Profile

Cielo e Terra is a joint venture between two families, Cielo, who have been making wine for over a century in Veneto and Puglia, and the Cantina Sociale Colli Berici.

Drawing on the Colli Berici’s vineyard resources, combined with the Cielo family’s winemaking skills, their partnership consistently produces wines which are fantastic value for money from both indigenous and international varieties.

Viticulture

The Berici Hills are a hilly formation with undulating reliefs, of modest heights (300-400 meters). The morphology of the hills is enriched by the presence of hilly slopes alternating with valleys. The altitude between 50 and 200 meters preserves mists and late frosts and enhances the effects of solar radiation with a long daily exposure to light in the most important months for the development of the vine and the ripening of the bunches. The microclimate of the Berici Hills is very favourable for the cultivation of vines, with particularly mild temperatures until late autumn, a good temperature range between day and night and a limited annual precipitation (500 - 600 mm).

Winemaking

Selected grape harvest, soft pressing and fermentation with maceration for 6 - 8 days to obtain the right colour intensity. Use of selected yeasts and fermentation at controlled temperature below 25 ° C. Storage in steel tanks at controlled temperature below 20 ° C trying to protect the wine with nitrogen to avoid the oxidative effect of the air. Maturation for about 12 months in cement tanks and short period in wood (about three months) in large barrels. Stabilization and cold bottling.

Oak Ageing

Time: 3 Months
% wine oaked: 100
% new oak: None

Tasting Note

Medium intensity garnet red. Fragrant notes of small ripe red berried fruits, pleasant raspberry, vanilla and light spicy hints. The finish is elegant with integrated tannin and structure.

Food Matching

Ideal with red meats, aged cheeses.