From the Aromas of Perfume to Wine: The Love Story behind Tentue Rio Maggio

The wines of Rio Maggio come from the Marche region of Italy.  Located in central Italy bordered on the east by the Adriatic Sea.  Tentue Rio Maggio started in 1976 by Graziano Santucci who saw the potential of growing grapes in his hometown of  Montegranaro. Today Simone, his wife Tiziana and their daughter Alessia grow the grapes and run the winery.

I am going to share with you the love story between Simone and his wife Tiziana at the end. You will see how Tiziana traded in her job with perfume for wine.  A story where it takes the a son to realize his father's passion and finish the dream that began many years ago. You will see and meet who is behind the wines of Rio Maggio.

When Paul and I sat down to taste the wines with some cheese. The bottles were not the normal 750ml but the size that dessert wines come in.  So, silly me thought I was tasting dessert wines, hence the small glass.  However, Paul brought a regular size wine glass out and he was right. They were't dessert wines at all but wonderful wines expressing the terroir of  Marche, Italy, rich in silicon and limestone that comes across in the glass.

Rio Maggio 2012  Colle Monteverde Pecorino is a nice crisp white wine with  hints of citrus, and floral notes.  The wine is complex and you can taste a bit of the minerality along with some honey, almond and citrus.  There is a hint of lime rind on the finish.

Rio Maggio 2011 Rosso Piceno a beautiful red wine 70% Montepluciano and 30% Sangiovese and aged 8 to 10 months in French oak.  Nice balance and when paired with the sharp cheese the wine just melted into a smooth sensation in your mouth.  There is a hint of smoke and raisin on the nose along with red berries.  On the palate lots of red cherry, raspberry, touch of violet and a hint of spice on the finish.

Both of these wines are great value and priced at $20.

Now the behind the scenes love story behind Tentue Rio Maggio.

The Perfumes of Tenute Rio Maggio

Le Marche, Italy: Rio Maggio Tasting

One of the things I love about participating in these #winestudio educational tastings is what I learn and observe.  This was our last week with Le Marche, Italy.  Producer we tasted was Rio Maggio.  We tasted two wines from them just like the Centenni but these were quite different.

Rio Maggio's began in 1976 with  the founder Graziano Santucci. He had a passion for vineyards and winemaking.  Today his son Simone along with his wife Tiziana run the company with vineyards planted in two D.O.C. regions of Le Marche. They are planted between the districts of Ascoli Piceno and Macerata: Rosso Piceno and Falerio dei Colli Ascolani.

The first wine tasted was the Colle Monteverde Pecorino. Fermentation for this wine takes place in stainless steel and then remains on the lees until March.  Once they bottle the wine it ages between 45 and 60 days.

The flavor profile on this Pecorino was very different than the previous one tasted last week.  It wasn't as vibrant.  That has to do with the wine sitting on the lees.  Same grape but two different styles.

Aromas of banana and red apples leads to a palate of meyer lemon, pineapple and shows some minerality.

If I was to compare this Pecorino to the one last week, I would say the Centanni was the wild child and the Rio Maggio is the more mature and reserve child.

Two days after the tasting I came home from work, hungry and wanting a glass of wine.  I poured the Rio Maggio Pecorino into a glass and munched on some Claussen Dill Pickles and potato chips.  When I went to take a sip of the Pecorino I stopped and thought, I just had a dill pickle and this is going to make the wine taste terrible.  WRONG.  The pairing went well together.  I couldn't believe it!  Then I began eating the chips, once again it complimented the wine.  I was so surprised!

SRP $24

The second wine tasted was Trio Maggio Rosso Piceno.  This wine was 70% Montepulciano and 30% Sangiovese blend.  The fermentation last between 12 to 15 days on the skins and then is put into both new and used French oak for 8 to 10 months.  After bottling the wine will rest in the bottles for another 4 to 6 months.

Aromas of black cherry, clove and tea filled the glass.  Plum, a hint of earth and black spice on the finish filled my palate.

This wine I paired with a grilled hamburger with gorgonzola. It was a great pairing.

SRP $24

If you want to order any of these wines visit ZGR Imports http://www.zgrimports.com/