Native wines

PROGETTO AUTOCTONI (Native Grapes project)

The Progetto Autoctoni is the fruit of a desire to express our local growing area utilising solely grapes native to the Oltrepò Pavese, in particular a red grape, the Mornasca, which a few centuries ago grew in a few vineyards lying in the commune of Mornico Losana. With this mission in mind, a few years ago we stopped producing wines from other grapes; although they were superb and quite popular, they were made from grapes that were not native to the Oltrepò Pavese.

Mornasca, known also by its older name of Uva di Mornico, was present in the vineyards of this town even before the phylloxera devastation, and it was used in the first half of the 1900s to answer consumer demand from the Milan area for wine in large quantities, since the grape produces a fairly heavy crop. Nevertheless, it fell into disuse in later generations of winegrowers, who, for various reasons, replaced it with varieties whose wines seemed more suited to contemporaneous tastes.

A few years ago, following the rediscovery of Uva di Mornico by our winery, which had long remained without any official recognition, it was included in the National Register of Wine-grape Varieties, thanks to a study conducted by the University of Milan, and it was given the name Mornasca.

The crucial step came in 2005, when Domenico Cuneo stumbled on the true quality potential of this gape, thanks to a small estate vineyard that had been preserved. That year, short pruning, which we had performed in order to reduce its normally heavy crop, combined with a late harvest caused by adverse weather conditions, yielded a red wine whose qualities were the opposite of those obtained in the past. That was how we experienced the first vintage of our new wine.

Nonetheless, our project took shape only after a few more years, following the planting of a new vineyard with Mornasca. Thanks to this grape’s great versatility, we have been able to produce a second wine style with obviously quite different characteristics, a superb sparkling rosé.

To make this latter wine, we harvest the grapes during the traditional period; for the full-bodied red wine, on the other hand, we let the grapes super-ripen on the vine.

"Orione" Mornasca 2018 - IGT Red


Grape : 100% Mornasca


Planting density : 4500 vines / Ha


Harvesting : October


Yield per hectare : 60 q


Vinification : The must is given a temperature-controlled fermentation in horizontal fermenters. The wine is drawn off and completes its fermentation in steel tanks at 25-26°C, in order to preserve its aromas, and then matures in tonneaux for about a year. 


Alcohol : 13.5% Vol


Residual Sugar : 2.2 g/l 


PH : 3.52


Colour : dense ruby red.


Nose : notes of red fruit (plum and cherry) and black (cassis) predominate, lifted by a smooth impression of spice and a crisp hint of black liquorice.


Palate : the optimum balance between alcohol, tannins and acidity offers perfect support to a superb structure.


Service : in large tulip-shaped stemware, at 18°C.


Pairings : Orione partners beautifully with the finest meat presentations, with game, as well as with aged cheeses.

"EOS" Mornasca 2012 - IGT Metodo Classico


Grape : 100% Mornasca


Planting density : 4500 vines / ha


Harvesting : beginning of September


Yield per hectare : 60 q


Vinification : Immediately after the grapes are picked, the clusters are gently pressed. The various steps for the production of the Metodo Classico follow after that. 


Alcohol : 13.0% Vol


Residual Sugar : Pas Dosè


Lees ageing time : 110 months



Colour : appearing a shimmering antique rose, it is rendered even more elegant by its long-lingering bead of pin-point bubbles.


Nose : it releases intense, complex aromas: first to emerge are delicate impressions of yeast, followed by emphatic floral and fruit notes, with rose petals and geraniums gradually yielding to lovely scents of pomegranate.


Palate : the wine has a superb structure and a beautiful balance between fruit and acidity. The lengthy, mineral-laden finish nicely mirrors the floral and fruit fragrances on the nose.


Service : at 8° C in tall, slender flutes. Store horizontally at 15°C or less.


Pairings : fish fry, salmon, cold cuts.

"SIRIO" Mornasca e Moradella - IGT Rosso



Grape : 80 % Mornasca, 20 % Moradella


Planting density : 4500 vines / Ha


Harvesting : September


Yield per hectare : 60 q


Vinification : The must is given a temperature-controlled fermentation in horizontal fermenters. 


Alcohol : 12 % Vol


Residual Sugar : 19 g/l 
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