Signoraginni

Cortona, Toscana

We first met Giorgia Salierno a few years ago. She was diligently pruning vines on a late winter's day in the vineyards of Conestabile della Staffa alongside Danilo Marcucci. Bright eyed and full of energy, her diminutive stature a direct contradiction to her oversized passion for the work at hand. Danilo was excited to have this young woman as his apprentice and was already telling me how diligent she was and dedicated to the life of a true natural wine farmer. Giorgia hadn't made any wine of her own at that point, rather she was putting in her dues at the "School of Marcucci" and absorbing all she could before embarking on her own winemaking project.

2021 saw Giorgia rent a small vineyard in Cortona, just over the Tuscan border where her family is from. Some old Sangiovese, Malvasia and Trebbiano vines greeted her but they needed much work and rehabilitation to produce proper wines...she got to work.

As harvest drew closer Giorgia began to imagine and interpret her first vintage of wines. A trio consisting of a classic skin-contact Tuscan bianco along with two 100% Sangiovese cuvees, one with a very brief maceration and the other with a classic, long skin contact during the primary fermentation.

Giorgia's background is in the fashion world. She studied, lived and worked on the runways of Milan for several years before returning to Umbria and Tuscany a bit diluted with the fashion industry and lifestyle. She wanted something more fulfilling and self-made and was enamored with the blossoming natural wine world in Perugia and Umbria.

Signoraginni is Giorgia's vision and a dedication to the new generation of women in the wine world (still relatively rare in Italy though that's changing quickly!) "In Donna Veritas'' (in women there is truth) is her motto and it guides her on the winemaking and farming journey. Each cuvee is named after a woman of significance to Giorgia and in the fashion world. The Labels are a nod to her fashion designing past.

Featured

Vivienne Bianco

Vivienne is named for Vivienne Westwood, the revolutionary English designer. 50% Trebbiano Toscana and 50% Malvasia from a single hectare of 30 year old vines on clay, sand and silt. Co-fermented with 15 days skin maceration. Aged for 6 months in steel tanks. No filtering or fining, and minimal added sulfur as neccesary. 3200 bottle production.

Grace Rosato

Named after Grace Jones, top model and famous pop singer from the 90’s. They have the same extravagant and outgoing personality. 100% Merlot from 15 year old vines on clay, sand and silt. Direct press, spontaneous fermentation. Aged in fiberglass. No filtering or fining and minimal added sulfur as necessary. 1160 bottle production.

Enigma Rosso

Named after the earliest known Italian drag queen that went by the alias “Enigma” in 1896. 100% Sangiovese from 15 year old vines on clay, sand and silt. Spontaneous fermentation with 2 days skin maceration. Aged for 7 months in stainless steel. No filtering or fining, and no minimal added sulfur as necessary. 6000 bottle production.

Darco Rosso

Named after Joan of Arc (d'Arco in Italian). 100% Sangiovese from 15 year old vines grown on clay, sand and silt. Spontaneous fermentation with 15 days maceration. Aged for 8 months in fiberglass tanks. No filtering or fining, and minimal added sulfur as necessary. 3600 bottle production.

Gea Rosso

Named after Gea, in ancient Greek. In the mythology, is the primordial goddess, the divine power, of the Earth; in Greek religion is considered the creative force, the origin of life. 100% Merlot from 15 year old vines on clay, sand and silt. Spontaneous fermentation with 1 month skin maceration. Aged in fiberglass. No filtering or fining and minimal added sulfur as necessary. 3600 bottle production.