Lanthano Rosso

Vineyard and terroir

The fruit comes from Giorgio Mercandelli’s vineyards in the foothills between the Apennines and the Po River, across the provinces of Alessandria, Genoa and Piacenza. The nearby river and well-drained soils rich in clay and limestone marl shape the local microclimate. The vineyards are farmed according to organic and biodynamic principles, without copper or sulfur treatments.

Grapes

The wine is a cuvée of different red varieties drawn from all of Mercandelli’s vineyards. He chooses not to identify the individual varieties, believing that doing so would distract from the wine’s intended character and meaning.

Vinification

The grapes are harvested entirely by hand at optimal ripeness and crushed by foot. Fermentation uses native yeasts and takes place in inert, high-silica ATLAC resin vessels. Skin maceration can exceed 120 days. The wine is bottled without fining, filtration or added sulfites.

Ageing

It rests in bottle for at least five years.

Serving and pairing

Decant for 30 minutes before serving.

Label / history

“Lanthano” means “to be hidden,” referring to Mercandelli’s conception of wine as the vine’s liquid memory concealed within the fruit. The name also evokes lanthanum, an element abundant in nature but difficult to isolate, reflecting his view of nature and human experience as an indivisible whole. Production totalled 3,000 bottles.