Growing Conditions

THIS VINTAGE OF CAPITANO IS A BLEND OF CHARDONNAY (84%) & PINOT NERO (16%), BOTH OF WHICH WERE GROWN AT SUMMIT VALLEY VINEYARD IN LUDINGTON, MI.

Harvest

THE GRAPES WERE HAND HARVESTED- BY PIRATES- SPECIFICALLY FOR SPARKLING WINE PRODUCTION AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER.

Winemaking

‘CAPITANO’ IN ITALIAN MEANS CAPTAIN. THE WINE EXHIBITS A DEFTNESS & STRENGTH THAT CHARACTERIZE A PIRATE CAPTAIN.

THE GRAPES WERE GENTLY FOOT TREAD. SKIN CONTACT LASTED LESS THAN THREE HOURS BEFORE PRESSING IN A SIMPLE BASKET PRESS. THE WINE WAS NATIVE YEAST FERMENTED IN 208L FOOD GRADE HDPE BARRELS. NO ADDITIONS OR SUBTRACTIONS WERE MADE DURING THE WINEMAKING PROCESS & LITTLE TO NO TECHNOLOGY WAS UTILIZED. THE WINE WAS BOTTLED BEFORE THE END OF PRIMARY FERMENTATION, ALLOWING THE FERMENTATION TO COMPLETE IN THE BOTTLE. THE WINE WAS LEFT UN-DISGORGED (WITH SEDIMENT), AS WE FEEL THIS ADDS PURITY, COMPLEXITY & PROTECTION TO THE WINE THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE LOST IF REMOVED. THE RESULT IS A DRY, GENTLY SPARKLING WINE WITH A FRUIT-FORWARD PERSONALITY, MODERATE ALCOHOL (12%) AND A WELL-DEFINED STRUCTURE.

Food Pairing

CAPITANO SHOULD BE STORED IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION AND SERVED COOL TO COLD, AS PER YOUR TASTE.

FEEL FREE TO POUR CAPITANO SLOWLY INTO A DECANTER TO SEPARATE THE WINE FROM THE SEDIMENT, OR INCORPORATE THE SEDIMENT BY GENTLY AGITATING THE BOTTLE PRIOR TO OPENING IF THAT IS YOUR PREFERENCE.

PAIRING SUGGESTIONS INCLUDE: APERITIVO, A LIGHT MEAL, OR POPCORN & A MOVIE.