A Fresh Take on Skin Contact Wine
Skin contact is when juice ferments with its grape skins, picking up texture, color, and layered flavor. Skin contact white wines are a natural fit for the table. The wine gets more food-friendly and more interesting at the same time.
Amore Bianco is our take on that: a California spin on the skin contact white wines of northern Italy. Grown at Fox Hill, bright and fresh, with complexity to hold up to any meal.
The Fox Hill Effect
Fox Hill is in inland Mendocino. It's warm and dry, with cold nights that slow ripening and hold onto acidity in a way you don't always get in Italy.
Friulano is picked first to retain its bright, tropical edge. Trebbiano follows almost two weeks later, giving it time to balance acidity and fruit.
Better Together
Trebbiano and Friulano have both been part of Italian skin contact winemaking for a long time. Trebbiano grows across most of Italy and has been used in blends for centuries to add freshness, acidity, and structure. Friulano is from the northeast, where it's the go-to white grape of Friuli. It's aromatic and a little savory, with notes of citrus and herbs.
They complement each other well in a skin contact blend. Trebbiano adds acidity and lift. Friulano brings flavor and character.
Shaped by Vessel
After harvest, both grapes were destemmed. Trebbiano spent three days on its skins while Friulano spent two weeks. Both were then gently pressed into a combination of sandstone jarres and Austrian puncheons. The two vessels let the wine develop slowly, keeping the focus on fruit, site, and skin contact.
Made for the Table
Amore Bianco was made for food. Try it with grilled fish, pasta with clams, white beans with herbs, or roasted vegetables. It shines with aged cheese and cured meats.
And yes, it pairs well with artichokes. That's why they're on the label.
