The Smiling Grape Company

After a weekend visit to Rome I headed up the coast to visit one of Tuscany’s best wineries called Poggio Argentiera situated in Maremma, where I was met by the charming Antonio Camillo from Poggio Argentiera.

Antonio spoke as much English as my non existant Italian but we managed to communicate through the universal art of sign language plus a bit of French too!

Poggio Argentiera’s Morellino de Scansano Bellamarsilla has become a favourite choice for many Smiling Grape customers.  Morellino is the name of both a type of cherry and the local name of Sangiovese.  The wine is matured for 6 months: one third in stainless steel, one third in large 3 ton oak vats and the final third in small barrels of new American oak.  The finished result is impressive: ripe with delicious black cherry aromas and an impressive long, satisfying finish.

Another Smiling Grape success has been Poggio Argentiera’s Capatosta which is made from a selection of the best and oldest Sangiovese clones (30 years old).  This is a true blockbuster of a wine, full-bodied but elegant and graceful.  “Capatosta” is southern Italian slang for “stubborn” which is a tribute to the owner’s Grandfather!

Antonio has also started to produce his own wine.  He bought two vineyards totalling five hectares in the area between Sovana and Pitigliano in the south of Maremma on the border with Lazio.  The Smiling Grape Company currently stock’s Antonio’s magnificent Maremma Rosso IGT “Principio” 2008 which is made from 100% Ciliogiolo.  The wine dances on the palate with soft cherry, raspberry and strawberry aromas.  The length is long and pleasing.  A true smile wine!