Situated in the province of Viterbo, some miles northwest of Rome, Bolsena is the largest volcanic lake in Europe. Roman historical records show us that the volcano has ceased its activity around 104 B.C., but since then it has not stopped to impose its climatic influence on the vast mass of land that surrounds it. The expansive water area, the peculiarity of the volcanic soils, and the hills surrounding the crater of the extinct volcano form an unusual ecosystem, where the small comune of Gradoli is included.
That said, this volcanic microclimate shaped more than the environmental nature, in so far as it also molded the human nature of the young Andrea Occhipinti, a Roman who, as a student of the Department of Agriculture of Tuscia University, had the chance to be acquainted with the vineyards of Gradoli, and he was so overwhelmed by the energy surrounding the sleepy volcano that he has chosen this small comune to be the topic of his BA thesis.
In 2004 Andrea started his viticultural project in 4 hectares of abandoned vines, 450 meters above sea level, a site of breathtaking beauty. His idea is to make wines with terroir, wines which convey the identity of Gradoli. For doing so he works exclusively with indigenous grapes, practicing a sort of agriculture whose aim is to interfere the minimum possible with the way of nature, something he calls a biological administration of the soil. In the cellar he uses stainless steel, cement and amphoras to age the wine. Andrea has restored the honor of a neglected grape which functions now as an emblem of his achievement – aleatico, traditionally used to make dessert wine, is vinified in a dry red, white, and rosé style, which demonstrates not only the versatility of this grape, but above all Andrea’s experimental persona.
