Amaracmand Wines: Authentic Flavors from Romagna’s Blue Clay

Tasting Amaracmand wines at Ristorante Atto in Florence offered a vivid expression of Romagna within the historic setting of Palazzo Portinari Salviati. Surrounded by Renaissance frescoes and architectural details, the sense of place extended seamlessly from the room into the glasses. Each wine reflected the slopes and soils of the Sorrivoli hills, brought to life through the words of owner Marco Vianello and his cousin Damiano Vianello, who oversees the winery. As the tasting unfolded, a coherent philosophy emerged, centered on sustainability and authentic expression. That narrative deepened when the wines were revisited alongside the thoughtfully composed dishes of Chef Vito Mollica, whose pairings revealed new layers in the wines. What remained most striking was the human element: a shared conversation connecting wine, food, and place, reminding that the most compelling bottles are inseparable from the land and purpose that shape them.

Marco Vianello, Chef Vito Mollica and Damiano Vianello

How Amaracmand Took Root

Amaracmand was founded in 2013 by Marco Vianello and Tiziana Matteucci, a couple from Villagrande di Montecopiolo, with the ambition of restoring visibility and value to Romagna wines. They acquired a historic but shuttered estate in Sorrivoli, amid forested hills near the Adriatic coast, not far from Rimini, Riccione, Cesenatico, Ravenna, and the town of Cesena. The estate had recently closed due to the economic recession, so both the infrastructure and the vineyards needed extensive restoration. Rooted in a family-run philosophy yet open to a new generation of wine professionals, Amaracmand quickly became a living expression of its territory.

The winery’s origins are closely tied to the extraordinary winter of 2012, when record snowfall isolated much of Romagna and the Montefeltro area. In Villagrande di Montecopiolo, over four meters of snow fell, cutting the village off for days. During that winter, Vianello spent time in nearby Sorrivoli, where he met Tiziana, who would later become his wife and partner. In spring, he learned that a small winery, La Centenara, was facing financial collapse. To help preserve the owner’s home, Vianello purchased the cellar, unknowingly laying the foundation for Amaracmand, a name inspired by his grandmother’s affectionate refrain to “be good.”

 

Building the Vineyards and the Cellar

The original estate included six hectares of vineyard and a basic cellar, rebuilt through hands-on work by Vianello, his uncle, and his cousin. A chance discovery of nearby land allowed Amaracmand to expand by seven to eight hectares of pristine vineyards, perfectly suited to organic winemaking and complementing the existing 1985 cellar. Among these plots, historic Sangiovese and Albana vines from the 1960s were preserved to provide scions for new plantings, ensuring continuity with the estate’s heritage. The vineyards sit on blue clay at around 263 meters above sea level, with southern and southwestern exposures enabling early ripening. Ten hectares of surrounding forest maintain the land’s natural purity, and minimal sulfites are added only to white wines.

The new cellar, completed in 2020 with architect Fiorenzo Valbonesi and technical guidance from oenologist Maurilio Chioccia and agronomist Professor Paliotti, blends discreet design with advanced technology. NASA-patented AEROCIDE purifiers maintain a mold-free environment without chemicals, while photovoltaic panels and automated systems ensure energy efficiency and precise, sulfite-free winemaking. As Marco says, the process is “like working in an operating room,” combining creativity, care, and respect for the land—a philosophy fully realized when Amaracmand began producing wine in 2021, “as God intended.”

The Wines of Amaracmand

Madame Titì IGT Bianco Rubicone Spumante Brut Nature Bio 2023
Dedicated by Marco Vianello to his wife Tiziana and symbolized by the female figure on the label, this Charmat Method sparkling wine originates from research into local grape varieties and their natural suitability for secondary fermentation. Based primarily on Bombino Bianco (85%), with Grechetto Gentile, Albana, and Trebbiano della Fiamme, the grapes are grown at 265 meters in Sorrivoli on blue clay, sandstone, tuff, and sandy soils, where sea and Apennine breezes and wide diurnal shifts preserve freshness. Vinified separately in stainless steel without allergens or added sulfites, early grapes form the acidic base while later-ripening varieties provide natural sugars for spontaneous refermentation. The final blend undergoes a long Charmat fermentation in autoclave, rests on its lees for over 40 days, and matures 6–8 months in bottle. Golden in color with a fine, persistent perlage, the wine offers aromas of dried flowers, hay, apple, and apricot, a supple yet vibrant palate, and a gently sweet finish edged with bitter almond—fluid, expressive, and well suited to an entire meal rather than just an aperitif.

Libumio Rubicone I.G.P. Bianco 2024
A dry white born from Amaracmand’s research into local grape varieties and its broader commitment to biodiversity, symbolized by the butterflies that continue to thrive among the vineyards and olive trees. Sourced from the Tenuta Cantina Vecchia in Sorrivoli di Roncofreddo, the blend is led by Bombino Bianco (around 85%), supported by Grechetto Gentile, Incrocio Manzoni Bianco, and Trebbiano della Fiamme, grown at 265 meters on blue clay, sandstone, tuff, and sandy soils. The grapes are hand-harvested from separate plots and vinified in stainless steel at low, controlled temperatures with minimal sulfites, then aged horizontally in bottle for at least six months. Pale straw yellow and 11.5% alcohol, the wine opens with a distinctly floral nose, followed by crisp apple and citrus notes. On the palate it is delicate yet precise, with persistent acidity, a subtle saline imprint from the tuff-rich soils, and a clean, savory finish. At the table, its freshness and gentle aromatic sweetness pair seamlessly with the appetizer steamed shrimp on pumpkin cream and winter vegetables, enhancing both the wine and the plate.

 

Perimea IGT Sangiovese Rubicone Bio 202
Takes its symbol from the two dragonflies on the label—sentinels of healthy, chemical-free vineyards—and offers a pure, transparent expression of Tenuta Cantina Vecchia in Sorrivoli di Roncofreddo. Farmed organically at 265 meters on blue clay with sandstone, tuff, and sandy elements, the Sangiovese is harvested and double-selected, then vinified without sulfites using only indigenous yeasts. Around 90% of the grapes are gently pressed, while 10% ferment whole to contribute native yeasts and fine-grained tannins; fermentation takes place spontaneously in sealed stainless steel, followed by at least ten days on the skins, six months in tank, and a further six months in bottle. Deep ruby in color at 12.5% alcohol, the nose is initially restrained, opening to mature plum, wild herbs, and a subtle powdery savoriness. The palate unfolds with clarity and energy—persistent acidity, supple tannins, and a pulpy fruit core—finishing citrusy, mineral, and lightly spicy. Authentic and vibrant, it paired seamlessly with pappardelle with butter and thyme, Parmigiano Reggiano fondue, and pheasant ragù.

Imperfetto IGT Rubicone Sangiovese Bio 2023
The wine that most clearly embodies Amaracmand’s philosophy: imperfection as identity, not flaw. From the Cantina Vecchia estate at the same altitude, it is based on a minimum of 85% Sangiovese, complemented by small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Alicante grown on blue clay, sandstone, tuff, and sandy loam soils. The organic grapes are meticulously hand-harvested and selected, vinified without added sulfites, and macerated on the skins for at least ten days before aging two months in stainless steel, six months in French oak (first to third passage), and another six months in bottle. Deep ruby and compact in profile, the nose is elegant and slightly introverted, shaped by black berries, undergrowth, and blueberry compote. On the palate it is supple yet assertive, with persistent acidity, finely woven tannins, and layered notes of dark fruit, balsamic herbs, licorice, and discreet vanilla. Eclectic, balanced, and quietly expressive, it turns philosophy into substance, shining alongside roasted duck with lentils and black truffle sauce.

Amaracmand

Address: Via Provinciale Sorrivoli 30, 47020 Sorrivoli (FC), Italy
Tel: +39 0547 326277
Website: https://www.amaracmand.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmaracmandWinery/