Poggio Anima
Sicily
Poggio Anima is a joint venture between one of Tuscany’s rising stars, Riccardo Campinoti of Le Ragnaie in Montalcino and his U.S.A. importer Ronnie Sanders of Vine Street Imports. The idea is straightforward: to source great vineyards from existing relationships and produce a real wine that conveys a place and a grape. These wines are not bulk wines or leftover juice from a winery; instead, they are the result of long-standing relationships with reputable and respected growers throughout Italy. Why the ancient pagan labels? There is an everyday dichotomy between good and bad in the world. Looking for balance in all things (including wine) is a vital quest for many. The Eastern ideology of Yin Yang is the core of this ‘balance’ in the Poggio Anima concept. Fusing this Eastern belief with Western philosophy is apparent when you look at the contradiction of red and white , good vs evil, and modern ideas with old world winemaking practices. The white wines are named after religious archangels while the reds are named after fallen angels. Each wine was specifically named for the persona of the grape, region or style of the wine. Each wine hails from one variety, a single-vineyard and representing its indigenous place of origin.
Wines
Uriel Grillo
Sicilia Igp
Grillo is a resilient grape that withstands a lot of heat and wind on Sicily. It is probably best known as the foundation for Marsala but in its dry form has many interesting characteristics. The Grillo vineyard is located in Western Sicily, in the Salemi area at about 25 miles from Marsala. They are planted around a third of a mile above sea level and are east facing on Sandy soil and clay rich soil.
Belial
Belial is one of the four crown princes of hell, and it roughly translates to ‘without yoke’ in Hebrew. This Sangiovese is sourced from vineyard sites around the provinces of Arezzo and Siena. Winemaker, Riccardo Campinoti is a firm believer that the wine is made in the vineyard. Ripe fruit, bright acid, ripe tannins.
Samael
In Jewish texts, Samael is better known as the ‘Angel of Death.’ It is believed that Samael is both good and evil in that he does the work of God but desires man to do evil. Sourced from 4 different vineyards across Abruzzo, Samael presents in an alluring and seductive way that lends itself to pleasurable drinking. 6 months in stainless-steel
Asmodeus Nero d'Avola
Sicilia Igp
In the Book of Tobias, an ancient Hebrew text, Asmodeus is the Demon of Lust. The vineyard for this Nero d'Avola is located in central Sicily, in the province of Caltanissetta, at about 1,600 feet above sea level. The altitude, together with the distance from the sea ensures great condition for ripening the Nero d'Avola. 3 months in used oak barrels
Lilith Primitivo
Salento
According to Hebrew texts, Lilith was the first wife of Adam. She was banished from the Garden of Eden when she refused to make herself subservient to Adam. The vineyard for the primitivo is located in San Pietro in the province of Taranto toward the top of the inner portion of the Puglian heel. Here the proximity to the sea is everything with the winds acting as an air conditioner maintaining cooler afternoon highs than areas to the north.
People
Riccardo Campinoti
Poggio Anima is a joint venture between one of Tuscany's rising stars, Riccardo Campinoti of Le Ragnaie in Montalcino and his U.S.A. importer Ronnie Sanders of Vine Street Imports. The idea is straightforward: to source great vineyards from existing relationships and produce a real wine that conveys a place and a grape.
