Azienda Agricola Al di là del Fiume
Founded in 2004, Azienda Agricola Al di là del Fiume (“The Farm Beyond the River”) is a small family farm practicing Biodynamic techniques to make gorgeously natural wines. Though Danila, Gabriele and Adriano own and farm 27 hectares, only 3 (7.41 acres) are planted to vines, with Albana for white wine and Barbera for reds. Their entire philosophy is to respect the earth and create a living, breathing organism of their farm.
Everything is done by hand, from the picking and sorting of the grapes to the making of the wines. Wild yeasts are allowed to ferment naturally, and the Albana and one of their 2 Barberas undergo skin contact maceration in Tuscan amphorae according to ancient principles.
Danila’s Fricando is an amphora fermented and macerated Albana. This ancient, almost unknown thick-skinned grape is native to the Bologna region just north of Marzabotto. Whole clusters are added to terracota vessels and after a long, slow ferment in the Tuscan clay jars, the wine is bottled unfined, unfiltered and unsulfured, for a brightly oxydative, slightly ripe wine with herbal accents, a wonderful umami mouthfeel and a mineral-driven finish. $28