Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The grapes come from the hills of Assisi and Spello in Umbria. The technical sheet identifies a 3 ha vineyard at 400 m, while the broader vineyard description places the vines between 400 and 500 m. The vines are approximately 16 years old, with a reported yield of 5.5 t/ha.
Two distinct soil profiles are recorded: medium-textured, sandy and permeable soils originating from weathered marine sandstone, and shallow, medium-textured soils with abundant stony material derived from the dissolution of Monte Subasio limestone.
Grapes
50% Grechetto and 50% Chardonnay. The two varieties are vinified separately to encourage their individual aromatic development.
Vinification
Harvest takes place from late August through early September. After arrival at the cellar, the grapes are promptly destemmed and cooled to approximately 8–10°C with dry ice. They remain in the press for several hours of cold skin contact. Rapid cooling aids aromatic extraction, while the oxygen-free environment created by the dry ice protects the fruit from oxidation.
Alcoholic fermentation takes place in 228 L French oak barriques sourced from Allier, Tronçais and Nevers. Malolactic fermentation is completed in barrel. Riccardo Cotarella is the winemaker.
Ageing
The wine matures on its lees in French oak barriques for approximately four months, followed by around one year in bottle; the bottle maturation is also described as lasting at least one year.
Technical data
- Alcohol: 14% vol.
- Total acidity: 5.80 g/L
- Dry extract: 27.00 g/L
- Yield: 5.5 t/ha
Tasting profile
Straw yellow with green-gold highlights. The aromatic profile combines honey, toasted hazelnut, butter and vanilla with subtler notes of pink grapefruit, tropical fruit and herbs. The palate has good density and aromatic persistence, leading to a rich, balsamic finish.
Label / history
Villa Fidelia Bianco was first produced in 1990. Riccardo Cotarella began collaborating with Sportoletti in 1998, bringing changes to vineyard management and vinification that shaped the wine’s identity. The name Villa Fidelia® refers to a monumental nineteenth-century villa approximately 500 m from the winery, a building closely connected with the history and culture of Spello.
