AJOLA
Once Upon a Time 2024
Umbria, Italy
Sangiovese from forty year old vines planted over alluvial soils from a parcel Jacopo farms in Osarella. The grapes were destemmed, and the wine fermented on the skins for a fortnight before being pressed to vats for a year of rest. Bright cherry-red in the glass, you feel the freshness of the vintage here, the fruit seasoned gently with cool herbs, which lend a little lift and intrigue. Being from Umbria, it is no surprise that this is a go-to wine for us with anything from the grill.
Sangiovese
ABOUT THE PRODUCER
Ajola is a small farm situated in the rolling hills outside Orvieto, at the crossroads of Umbria, Lazio and Tuscany.
Jacopo Battista farms three and a half hectares of vines up to seventy five years old planted over sandy loam of volcanic origin. Facing east at some four hundred metres above sea level, the situation lends a fresh, fragrant character to the wines. Recently, Jacopo has also begun farming a further hectare and a half of Procanico and Ansonica from old vineyards closer to Lago di Bolsena, where the volcanic soils are made up of black sand and stones.
Having worked for many years for Gianmarco and Clementine of Le Coste, Jacopo started Ajola in 2012 guided by both a respect for the way the land was tended by the contadini of old and a desire to contribute to a new community of regenerative farming in the area.
At that time the vineyards had been neglected for decades and he spent several years nurturing the plants back to life, replanting and grafting from old massale cuttings. He has worked organically from the outset, treating the vines with just a small amount of copper and sulphur and preparing various herbal teas to boost their health.
In the cantina he experiments with various vessels to gain an understanding of the best way to express the region’s grapes and landscapes. In recent times, Jacopo has gravitated towards field blends, trusting nature to find harmony. Pure, nourishing and very much alive, Jacopo’s wines make for compelling drinking.