Gran Sasso Pecorino
Pairs with: Spaghetti alle vongole (clams in white wine and garlic), fried calamari with a squeeze of fresh lemon, herb-roasted pork loin, grilled branzino, or a rustic plate of semi-aged Pecorino cheese and cured meats.
Good for: Elevating a sunny afternoon patio happy hour, introducing a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio fan to a much more texturally interesting Italian white, or pairing with a multi-course seafood feast.
Grape: 100% Pecorino.
I am from: Terre di Chieti IGT, Abruzzo, Italy.
The Story: Crafted under the umbrella of the acclaimed Fantini Group (founded in 1994 by Valentino Sciotti), Gran Sasso was born out of a passionate mission to showcase the absolute peak potential of Abruzzo's native varieties. The winery takes its majestic name from the Gran Sasso d'Italia ("Great Stone of Italy"), the highest mountain peak in the Apennines. This towering mountain wall acts as a crucial natural fortress, shielding the high-altitude hillside vineyards from harsh western storms while funneling cool, alpine evening breezes down across the vines. This cool air collides with warm maritime currents drifting off the nearby Adriatic Sea, creating a dramatic day-to-night temperature swing that locks in incredible freshness.
The Pecorino grape itself is a piece of living Italian folklore. Nearly lost to history as winemakers favored higher-yielding varieties, it was rediscovered growing wild in the mountains. Its name playfully translates to "little sheep," a nod to the ancient shepherds whose roaming flocks famously loved to snack on the sweet, low-hanging berries during seasonal migrations. To honor this history, winemakers Rino Santeusanio and Francesco De Santis—working alongside legendary consulting enologist Alberto Antonini—eschew oak entirely. They ferment the hand-harvested fruit at low temperatures in stainless steel vats to ensure the grape's raw mountain energy remains completely unmasked.
Why You'll Love Me: It is bright, intensely aromatic, and wonderfully refreshing, effortlessly delivering a beautiful high-wire act between luscious orchard fruits and a savory, mouthwatering crunch. In the glass, it pours a brilliant straw-yellow color with clean, shimmering greenish reflections. The nose is highly expressive and instantly captivating, greeting you with a generous basket of ripe green pears, honeydew melon, and fresh white peaches, seamlessly interwoven with delicate nuances of wild sage, orange blossom, and a faint whisper of crushed mint. On the palate, it strikes with a perfectly proportioned medium body and a surprisingly satiny, mouth-coating texture. This weight is beautifully balanced by a laser-sharp beam of natural acidity and a distinct, signature salty mineral snap (sapidità) that cleanses the palate and drives into a long, focused, and utterly revitalizing finish.
