D'Alesio

Azienda Agricola D'Alesio, trading as D'Alesio Sciarr, is an organic family estate at Gaglierano in Città Sant'Angelo, in the hills of Pescara province a few kilometres from the Adriatic.

The family traces the estate to Alessio D'Alesio, "lo Scione", to whom the Sciarr line is dedicated, and dates it to 1843 on its site, while the Sciarr labels and one profile say 1863. The estate as it stands today was shaped by Mario D'Alesio, born in 1922 in Colle di Moro, a professor of agriculture for 45 years, who planted the vineyards. His son Lanfranco owns it and runs the cellar with partners Mario and Giovanni D'Alesio; Lanfranco's daughter Serena, a chef, and his son Mario also work in the business.

The farm covers about 40 ha of vines, olives, cereals and legumes, all organic. The vineyard is 12.5 ha at around 300 m, facing south-east and south-west, in a sunny valley tempered by regular winds and the nearby sea; one source describes the soils as stony and calcareous, another as medium clay. Green manure and aged sheep manure from the adjoining livestock operation feed the vines, and harvest is always by hand. The grapes are Montepulciano, Trebbiano, Pecorino, Montonico, Cococciola and Passerina.

There are three lines. Sciarr is the historic range: Montepulciano, Cerasuolo, Trebbiano, Pecorino and Passerina d'Abruzzo DOC. D'Alesio is the selection made only in vintages the family judges favourable, with the Montepulciano Riserva, a Pecorino and a Montonico. Tenuta del Professore is a Montepulciano and a Trebbiano dedicated to the grandfather. Around them sit two sparkling wines, the Donna Delia passito, grappa, brandy and an Aprutino Pescarese DOP olive oil. Across the range, wines are released only when the family considers them ready.