Cantine Viola
In 1999 Luigi Viola, retired professor of 35 years and forever passionate of the land, decided to dedicate his time and energy to the revival and promotion of a Calabrian nectar on the verge of extinction: the Moscato di Saracena. Together with his sons Roberto, Alessandro and Claudio, the Viola family was committed to producing this sweet dessert wine, once a favorite of Roman pontiffs, all the while respecting the particular vinification methods traditionally used in the sixteenth century.
A blend of three varietals, the Moscato di Saracena is produced exclusively in Saracena in the Parco Nazionale del Pollino, by way of an ancient procedure which calls for the separate fermentation of the Moscatello di Saracena, autochthonous aromatic varietal, and the grapes Guarnaccia and Malvasia Bianca di Saracena. The Moscatello grapes are dried and added to a cooked must from the Guarnaccia and Malvasia grapes. The concentration of the juice is obtained by boiling, a process that has no place in the current legislature and that has hindered the wine from obtaining its “Doc” appellation.
No matter, since in a very short time the Viola family’s accomplishments and meticulous work have awarded them accolades and recognition from the wine press globally as producing the “Best Dessert Wine” in Italy. The organic production of the Moscato di Saracena is limited to a mere 4,000 bottles a year.
Wines in Portfolio
Cantine Viola Magliocco Rosso
Cantine Viola Moscato Passito di Saracena