In the heart of Abruzzo, during a global pandemic lockdown, a passion project bloomed at Mazzarosa Winery. Fueled by a conversation between Dr. Antonio Mazzarosa and brilliant wine expert Riccardo Brighigna, the dream was born: To create a completely unique wine. A wine that was softer, fruitier, yet undeniably connected to its Abruzzo roots.
Riccardo is one of the most respected wine consultants in the region. He was twice named times “Winemaker of the Year of the Abruzzo Region” and then awarded "Benemerito della Vitivinicoltura Italiana" by the Vinitaly Academy.
Inspired by this challenge, Riccardo, deep in his Master of Wine studies, revived the ancient "Whole Bunch" technique, where whole grape clusters, stems included, underwent aging. This winemaking technique promised a wine bursting with aromas and flavors, a true reflection of the Abruzzo land.
They called it Vere Novo, which means "New Spring" in Latin. It wasn't just the year the wine was made (2020), but a symbol of the fresh start this whole project was. This unique blend of old and new techniques surprised everyone. Vere Novo won a Platinum Medal (97 point score) at the Decanter World Wine Awards right out of the gate, becoming the “best Montepulciano from Abruzzo” and placing it among the “Top 150 wines in the world!” For a small winery, this was a huge win, proving they could make something truly special.
Vere Novo wasn't just lauded by Decanter. Renowned wine critic James Suckling awarded it 93 points, the highest score he gave to any Montepulciano for the 2020 vintage, solidifying its status as the top Montepulciano d'Abruzzo of that year.
News of Vere Novo's success spread quickly. And so BHW’s Owner and founder Greg Martellotto, (and one of the only 415 “Italian Wine Ambassadors” in the world) took notice. After tasting Vere Novo, he was so blown away by its innovation and quality that he decided to directly import it, and bring it straight to Big Hammer Wines. This is probably the most elegant Montepulciano we’ve ever had. This is not a sweet, oaky style. We’re proud direct importers of this stunning gem!
Aging: 12 months in steel and 6 months in bottle.
