Notes from Vine Farmer:

"Francesco Annesanti says that his soul is in his wine. Francesco’s cantina is in a rural part of Umbria where there are no other vines for miles in any direction. He farms no official appellation, simply making “Umbrian” wine. His land, although rich with life and having a high percentage of clay, is largely flat. Although atypical, its obvious that the land is special as soon as his wines are experienced.

Even so, his passion and dedication undoubtedly add an essence to the overall quality that can never be defined. Francesco quite literally does everything himself, from farming right down to personally dipping each bottle in wax and hand labeling. His terra cotta amphorae were custom made to support the miniscule quantities that he works with. He even fashioned his own desk and only bottles during clear skies and a waning moon! There are truly only a handful of growers spread across the EU working at this meticulous level of ownership with each aspect of their operation.

As for the wines, they are striking for their zen-like harmony, impeccable balance, and beautiful transparency. Simply put, few wines are as joyous as these; idiosyncratic and full of character, without being the least bit rustic. This is the epitome of wine made as living art as opposed to a homogenized product. Although quantities are always small because Francesco’s wines are in demand (and some cuvees see only 600 bottles made each year), we’re proud to have introduced Francesco and his wines to the East Coast."