Abruzzo Region

The mountainous region of Abruzzo in Central Italy. It is home to one DOCG – Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane. Three DOCs – Cerasuolo Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, and Controguerra. Abruzzo primarily produces wines from Montepulciano, but also Sangiovese, Pecorino, and Passerina, as well as more international varieties such as Chardonnay.

Cantina Orsogna

Cantina Orsogna is an award-winning Abruzzo cooperative specializing in indigenous grapes from the region, such as Montepluciano d’Abruzzo, Cococciola, and Pecorino. Orsogna is committed to the biodynamic principles with which they make their wine and has many certified Demeter biodynamic wines. Under the Lunaria brand, they support the activities of the WWF LIFE Euroturtles project to protect turtles in the Mediterranean Sea. The goal of the project is to improve the conservation status of the EU populations of two priority species of sea turtles, the loggerhead sea turtle Caretta Caretta and the green sea turtle Chelonia mydas.

Lunaria is a biodynamic winery and part of the larger Cantina Orsogna. And not just any biodynamic house! The World Biodynamic Conference, held in San Francisco in the spring of 2018, even recognized them as the largest Demeter-certified biodynamic grape community in the world! It all began in 2005 when former members of Cantina Orsogna, who were already deeply committed to organic farming, decided to manage the vineyards according to the principles of biodynamic agriculture. The vineyards are located in Orsogna and neighboring municipalities, on the slopes of Majella National Park—majestic and peaceful—and just 15 km as the crow flies from the Adriatic Sea.

Fully Demeter certified.

Everything here follows Maria Thun's calendar. A close watch is also kept on the pulse here with a sophisticated network of weather stations. This is to stay ahead of all kinds of fungi and diseases in the vineyards. Old tradition and high tech. They go together perfectly here. At Lunaria, an orange thread (the color of biodynamics) is manually applied, bottle by bottle, to secure the corks. An old agricultural practice passed down by their grandparents. For Lunaria, it is both a symbol of a bond with the culture and its tradition, and a substitute seal for capsules! The orange thread that binds them is the strength and vital energy their soil bestows.

One finds a pure expression of a healthy and vibrant terroir in Lunaria's wines. To create shared value, this binding is entrusted to the social workshop Fattoria Babalu. So, the heart is in the right place here too. Honest and delicious wines, with beautiful labeling as well, and above all, very tasty and pure.