I CA RO "Operaio" Rosso Populare, Lazio, Italy 2024

FROM SELECTIONATUREL:

THE WINE: 60% Cesanese, Montepulciano and Sangiovese grapes from Pergola vines on volcanic soil, 40% Malvasia and Trebbiano. The white and red grapes are fermented in steel after 3 days of maceration while a small part age in barrique and it’s blended before the bottling. A red wine of great freshness and surprising acidity with crunchy tannins that lengthen and complete the drink. There is everything you need: red fruit and minerality, body, acidity and balsamic hints. Drinkers from all over the world.

We wanted a fresh, direct and spontaneous red wine. So powerful and expressive to reach everyone by representing the territory without hiding its rustic but always authentic character. L’Operaio is a wine for daily fatigue and for block parties in the streets. For Sunday lunches and to nurture the soul. It is a working class red, made with strong hands and pure heart. Let’s Unite!

THE PRODUCER: In 2019 a band of four friends - Rocco, Fabio, Luca & Gianmarco - founded I CA RO (an acronym standing for i Castelli Romani) . The collective group are childhood friends, born and raised in central Rome. After working in the blossoming enoteca scene and with several small natural winemakers around Italy, they decided it was time they went to work creating a new vision of Roman wine, from the volcanic soils of the Castelli Romani just south of the city. The wines they have set out to create embody the new, modern vision of what Roman wine culture and local terroir has to offer. They intend to change the game and shake things up, working with native grapes of course but also using a variety of vinification methods that are a combination of old-farmer wisdom and modern know-how.