Cantina
Ripatransone is located high in the mountains of southern Marche overlooking
the Adriatic Sea. With ideal exposure to the sun and the backdrop
of the Apennine Mountains, this area has a historical aptitude for
red grape varieties and is rich with its own native lines of Sangiovese
and Montepulciano.
The Cantina
was established in 1969 by a group of 150 farmers that were tired
of being exploited by the local private wine firms that bought their
grapes; they also wanted to safeguard and improve their own wine production.
After several bureaucratic and economic problems, their first wine
production from the grapes of the members was in 1977.
Since
that time the winery has steadily grown and developed. Today it has
450 members. Strict incentives have been effective in 1) reducing
the yield per hectare, 2) reorganizing the vineyards, 3) increasing
accuracy in the selection of grapes at harvest, 4) updating winemaking
and equipment, 5) aging in large oak and barriques when appropriate,
and 6) intelligent marketing. The winery has grown into a successful
enterprise recognized as a producer of high quality wines.
Mojo
is 100% Sangiovese, hand harvested in mid- October from vines planted
at 200 meters above sea level and averaging 15 years in age. It is
fermented and aged in stainless steel, providing a fresh, densely
garnet/purple wine with generous ripe fruit tannins.
It is
quite versatile. Mojo has the rich texture to pair well with meats,
the freshness and verve to pair well with pasta, and the pure unoaked
fruit to pair well with seafood. A trifecta!
