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FARMER AND ARTIST
hedonist and masochist alchemist and accountant
and has been since
Hugh Johnson
FROM FATHER TO SON IN THE SIGN OF BEAUTY
T
his could be the company's slogan, born in 1969, when Dario Nicodemi redeemed some agricultural land and decided to produce wine. Since 2002 the company has been cured with dedication and tenacity by the son Ezio Maria, plastic surgeon, a young producer who had to learn the viticulturist's profession and at the same time grow the company as excellence. This is how the company began: from finding an organization suitable for cultivation, to identifying the right winemaker to guarantee the quality of the product, to creating a commercial and communication network. "The most beautiful moment - he says - was shortly after the beginning of the activity, when my daughter was born: I took the Nerodichiara with enthusiasm, with the precise desire to continue to link the activity to the family tradition". Ezio Maria Nicodemi is deeply tied to the world of wine since he was a child, despite his work concerns anything else: "I remember the races I did when I was just over five years old, with the sun rays passing between the clusters of hanging grapes. I felt a strong sense of freedom: the same feeling that I feel even today every time I pass under the vines�. In fact, it is one of the last vineyards in Abruzzo that still preserves the typical " abruzzese pergola " cultivation, after the European Community decided to finance its transformation in rows, suitable to produce a smaller quantity of grapes and therefore to obtain a higher quality. I remember when we returned the check already received to proceed with the removal, blocked in extremis by Walter De Batte, convinced of being able to make those old pergola vineyards, wines capable of impressing in the memory, like the best French Chateaux. And as Walter always says, “this is a vine to be sculpted, lightened, to bring out its most noble soul ". V
HISTORY
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ontado Veniglio nasce nel 2002 grazie all’intraprendenza e alla passione del chirurgo Ezio Maria Nicodemi, di suo padre Dario, stimato medico, e della sorella Alessandra. Una famiglia di creativi il cui estro ha radici lontane. Origina, infatti, da un ramo Nicodemo di fine Cinquecento, un casato di abati, maestri scultori, illuminati dottori e ceramisti (Il nonno del titolare, Ezio Nicodemi, non a caso è stato maestro ceramista). La giovane cantina abruzzese, forte dei vigneti di proprietà e di un terroir unico (tra le colline del teramano, a pochi minuti dal mare Adriatico), ha puntato da subito su una produzione di alta qualità. “Avevo capito - dice Nicodemi - che un buon vino si può fare ovunque, ma un grande vino no. Per realizzarlo serve una grande vigna”. Da questo assunto è iniziata la sua avventura. Il primo passo è stato coinvolgere il noto enologo de Battè, grazie alla cui consulenza sono prodotti tutti i vini del Contado Veniglio. Quindi, la scelta dei migliori agronomi sul mercato che hanno ottimizzato la gestione dei terreni e delle antiche viti, impiantate nel 1969 con tecniche all’avanguardia per l’epoca. Un lavoro quotidiano che Nicodemi segue in prima persona: è lui che da quindici anni gestisce direttamente i vigneti, prima affidati alla cura esterna. Il risultato finale? Un prodotto basato sul Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, un vitigno autoctono dalle cui uve si ricava uno dei più grandi rossi italiani. Un vino di carattere che riflette una scelta di coraggio e al tempo stesso di umiltà, espressione di grande attenzione alla qualità.
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Ezio Maria Nicodemi
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“
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A dream cultivated since childhood that has become reality. The fortuitous tasting of a wine by the great Walter de Battè and the announcement of the birth of my daughter were the spring that triggered in me the desire to launch myself in the adventure of direct production. my inspiration? the phrase of Napoleon, "On s’engange et puis on voit (we commit ourselves and then we see)"
PHILOSOPHY THE CULTURE OF QUALITY
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culture of quality that is strengthened in respecting the environment and ancient knowledge, for a production that combines the maximum extract with finesse and harmony. This is the philosophy that inspires the Contado Veniglio. The strength of the Abruzzo company is all in a craft wine. The "little is beautiful" assumption, in fact, represents the polar star of the winery. From the selection of the grapes to the bottling, the figure of the Contado Veniglio winery is all in meticulous attention to every phase of the production process. without processing in series but exalting at most the artisan knowledge and the uniqueness of the terroir. Thus cult wines are born, in small quantities. Rich and sensual products, with a very concentrated taste. Upstream a meticulous work that starts with the hand harvest of the grapes and continues with a soft pressing before vinification, with meticulous control of the temperatures. But the secret of this nectar of Bacchus is contained in a late harvest at the limit and in an intense peeling, but also in a very small harvest, with the selection of the best berries. And, therefore, in a malolactic fermentation conducted in cask, a maturation of the wine on the lees with consequent batonnage without, finally, clarifying and filtering the wine.
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THE TERRITORY THE CONTADO VENIGLIO IS LOCATED IN THE ANCIENT VILLAGE OF NOTARESCO.
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e are in the heart of the Teramane Hills, gentle hills with an average height between 250 and 330 meters above sea level, about 20 kilometers southeast of the Gran Sasso, 8 kilometers from the Adriatic Sea and 2 kilometers from the river Tordino. precisely exploiting this particular pedoclimatic position, at the end of the 60s the vineyards were planted, the land was undone and drainage and leveling works completed, making the soil irrigated by creating a hilly lake. The vineyard is situated at 320 meters above sea level and enjoys a Mediterranean island climate, with summers and winters mitigated by constant ventilation. thanks to these environmental conditions and to the south-eastern exposure of the winery, the grapes, grown with the Abruzzese pergola production system, are protected from direct irradiation. furthermore, the expanded exposure of the foliar system allows to store in the bunches a greater quantity of sugary substances. The property: Seven hectares, of which five are vineyards, composed of a medium-textured soil tending to clay with a particularly specific ph of about 6.7. The good condition of the vegetation is maintained thanks to a traditional cultivation, without the use of herbicides and pesticides and with an organic fertilization every four years. The particular pedoclimatic characteristics of the farm allowed 140 Ruggeri to be adopted as rootstock and the Abruzzese openings as a form of breeding. This combination has made it possible to obtain higher quality results.
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CULTURA NOTARESCO
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he small hillside village near Teramo, just a few minutes from the Adriatic Sea, is worth a visit to immerse yourself in the splendid panorama dotted with vineyards and olive
groves. An agricultural tradition inaugurated by the Benedictine monks who first practiced it. Do not miss the abbey of San Clemente al Vomano and Santa Maria di Propezzano, extraordinary Romanesque monuments dating back to the ninth century that testify to the presence of these medieval monks. You can not skip a stop in Atri and its cathedral, a national monument since 1899 that preserves inside a valuable fresco by Andrea De Litio, one of the greatest exponents of the central southern painting of the Renaissance. From the Adriatic coast, near the SS 80 towards Sant'Omero, then, the parish church of Santa Maria a Vico is unmissable. Built on the ruins of a pagan temple dedicated to Hercules, this church is considered to be the only monument of the Abruzzi prior to the Mille, almost complete to us. Finally, Tortoreto Alta is an authentic Renaissance pictorial jewel. Worth a visit is the chapel of the Madonna della Misericordia which was built after the terrible plague of the fourteenth century as a sign of thanksgiving to the Madonna for having freed the country from the terrible epidemic.
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The minerality of the clay is the alpha and the omega of this land of Abruzzo that is molded before fixing itself in eternity. The clay here in the hills of Teramo is present in the ceramics as in the frescoes, in the sculptures as in the same wine
the wine elevates the soul
and the thoughts,
and the worries
turn away from from the heart
of the man. Pindaro
NERODICHIARA MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO RED WINE GRAPE VARIETY / Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 100% ALCOHOL CONTENT / 15 ° TASTING NOTES / Powerful, articulate, ample and greedy wine, capable of a well-blended nose with red and black fruity notes in jam; eucalyptus, mint, humus, graphite and spices. Elegance and structure in the mouth, softness and slender texture at the same time, with subtle sapidity and smooth tannins. Long and consistent retro-smell. COLOR / ruby red SOIL / compact clay HINTS / blackberry, black pepper HARVEST / third decade of September - first ten days of October. Manual collection. VINIFICATION / Maceration in steel vats, tonneaux and stops in barriques of the tonneau tonneau for 30 months. AGING / 12 months in bottle PAIRINGS / red meats, cured meat, stewed woodcock with polenta, wild boar stew, neretese goat.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Nerodichiara 5 CLUSTERS / DUEMILAVINI BIBENDA
BLUFRANCESCA MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO RED WINE
GRAPE VARIETY / Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 100% ALCOHOL CONTENT / 14,5° TASTING NOTES / Ruby. Smell of sour cherries and sour cherries, earth, china and balsamic hints. the taste is silky, the tannin is regulated, warm, with a savory texture and a good acidity. processing exclusively in steel. COLOR / ruby red SOIL / compact clay HINTS / blackberry, black pepper HARVEST / third decade of September - first ten days of October. manual collection VINIFICATION / destemming soft crushing, fermentation of small stainless steel tanks with maceration of 12-13 days. AGING / 10 months in the bottle PAIRINGS / red meats, stewed fish, gnocchi with duck meat sauce, pasta with meatballs with three meat (lamb, pork, veal). stockfish with spicy potatoes.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Blufrancesca 4 CLUSTERS / DUEMILAVINI BIBENDA
SCIALLA ROSE WINE
GRAPE VARIETY / Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 100% ALCOHOL CONTENT / 13,5° TASTING NOTES / Elegant, subtle and refined wine. Notes, on the nose, floral, fruity, with time, balsamic. Entry mineral into the mouth. Fresh and stretched on the palate. COLOR / cherry color with pomegranate reflections. of beautiful transparency SOIL / compact clay HINTS / peach blossoms, ripe pomegranate and iodine. HARVEST / third decade of September VINIFICATION / short maceration of the skins for 24/30 hours, permanence on its lees for about a year, natural decantation in steel. Bottling without clarification or filtration. AGING / 6 months in bottle PAIRINGS / serve cold with fish soup and stew, seafood, both steamed and raw, oysters.
BRUMAUREO TYPICAL GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION - IGT
RED WINE GRAPE VARIETY / Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 100% ALCOHOL CONTENT / 15° TASTING NOTES / dark ruby rich in fruity perceptions in jam, chocolate, dried flowers, and spices. Sweet, powerful, with definite returns of black cherries. Warm with tight but velvety tannins. COLOR / Dark ruby red SOIL / compact clay HINTS / chocolate jam HARVEST / third decae of September / first ten days of October - manual harvest - drying for 60 days in crates. VINIFICATION / withering, pressing and not very long maceration. 8 months of rest in steel vats and then of wood. 20 months in barrels of 100lte 50 liters of third passage oak. no filtration AGING / 10 months in the bottle PAIRINGS / meditation wine. goat's and pecorino cheeses. dark chocolate Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Brumaureo 4 CLUSTERS / DUEMILAVINI BIBENDA
thanks to all the fans and to those who worked on this crazy idea
In particular: to my daughters Chiara and Francesca Maria a to whom I have dedicated the realization of the main labels My wife Costanza always guides you, for her enthusiasm and her trust. to my historical friends: Alberto Ruggeri, for the realization of the future winery (hopefully not too future) Leonello Fontana brother of life Roberto Zelli who helped me and inspired me for the company name Stefano Gorini careful jurist for the production of wines: Silvio Governi, who started me in this complicated world of wine To his friend and colleague Armando Castagno who first tasted Nerodichiara 2003. A Walter de BattĂŠ creator of wine and master of life to Federico Curtaz who took care of the vineyard in the first company luster to Remo di Giuliantonio for the calm and the patience with which he always solves all emergencies It's still: to Paolo Longo for the myriad and the irony with which he accompanied us in the hard world of bureaucracy. to Andrea Liberati for the honesty with which one day he admitted to have changed his mind To Nicki Cusumano, Alberto Federici, Manuele Pollina and Andrea Saran for helping us to graphically describe our passion and our territory. To the earth workers Claudio and Daniele A special thanks to Gelasio Gaetani d'Aragona who, together with Costanza, told us about our adventure around the world with the beautiful book "walking with wine". To all the authors and winemakers who have described the techniques and stories of the wine, which with their effort contribute to spread the passion for this incredible product of the earth. and in particular, thanks to Hugh Johnson, master of the masters, I am very proud to know our wines. And finally a greeting and a thank you to my sister, my father and my mother, sources of inspiration. Ezio Maria Nicodemi
Wine prepares hearts
and makes them more ready for
passions Ovidio
Notaresco (Teramo) - Abruzzo Contrado Veniglio - strada prov.le 19 n. 4 30 avv.lega@gmail www.contadoveniglio.com