Azienda Agricola Rosmarinus
Perinaldo, Liguria

Rosmarinus is a small family-run farm located in Perinaldo, a town in the province of Imperia, in the hinterland of western Liguria. Owners Marco Blancardi and his wife, Francesca, both personally and through their work, convey a passion and respect for the environment. Rosmarinus cultivates and exclusively produces Rossese di Dolceacqua from 2 crus, in very small quantities. The vineyards are located in an inaccessible, internal territory that benefits from influence of the sea. The soil is calcareous which gives a strong mineral influence to their wines while leaving a very elegant imprint.

In the mid-1990s, Marco Blancardi began excavating, by hand, overgrown terrain in the hinterland of western Liguria. Olive groves and typical Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, thyme and lavender were resuscitated from undergrowth that had been lying fallow for decades for the production of oils and essences from them. In 2005 the project was expanded to include their first vineyard; Alpicella. A second vineyard, Posau, with 90, year old vines was added in 2009. Pear, lemon, tangerine trees, roses, wild flowers are also grown.

Biodynamic agriculture, along with cellar practices that are non-interventionist, allow their certified, organic wines to evolve naturally. Viticulture and olive growing are the focus, while, on a limited scale, apiculture and the cultivation of aromatic herbs are also carried out for production of essential oils.

After manual harvesting, fermentation in the cellar is spontaneous with only indigenous yeasts and without temperature control. The juice is macerated on the skins for about 15 days. After racking, the wines age in steel for 12 months. The work in the cellar for both Alpicella and Posau take place without any additives, except for a little SO2. Both wines are neither fined nor filtered.

“At Rosmarinus, everything happens exactly, as it did in the cellars of our grandparents…”

Rossese di Dolceacqua “Alpicella”

Rossese di Dolceacqua “Alpicella” is planted on limestone soil at an altitude of 500 meters. Alppicella is fragrant and delicate with inviting aromas of fresh, red fruit, roses, violets and currants. Smooth and velvety, the wine displays, nuanced flavors of mixed berries, aromatic herbs with hints of orange peel. It is complex and elegant in the mouth with rich texture and body. The wine’s long, lingering finish is supported with ripe, mellow tannins.

Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC Alpicella – 1.2 hectares

Total production: 200-300 cases

Rossese di Dolceacqua “Posau”

Rossese di Dolceacqua “Posau” is grown on a very steep, vineyard site, which is difficult to manage. Produced from 100-year-old vines at an altitude of 200 meters, the Posau is darker and softer than Alpicella, offerring aromas of wild berries, roses and pepper. Elegant and velvety in the mouth, the wine displays a lingering montage of complex, smooth, spicy flavors, supported in the background with balanced acidity and tannin.

In addition to grapes, pear, lemon, tangerine trees, roses, wild flowers and herbs grow in the Posau vineyard.

Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC Posaù - 0.3 hectares

Total production: 50-100 cases

Extra virgin olive oil produced entirely from Taggiasca olives on 1.5 hectares of olive trees

 

Visit their website

www.rosmarinus.it/homeN.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rossese di Dolceacqua “Alpicella”

 

Rossese di Dolceacqua “Posau”

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