From: Castelli di Jesi, Marche, Italy
Varietal: Lacrima di Morro
Taste: This intensely aromatic red is delicious, with moxie and charm to spare. A floral nose immediately meets deep fruit and sweet spices that follow through to the palate, where freshness and minerality come together via supple tannins. You’ll note aromas of violet and crushed rose, raspberry confiture, cherry pie, and perfectly ripened blueberries next to sage, brown sugar, cinnamon, and pink peppercorn. An undercurrent of wet stone keeps everything feeling and smelling fresh. The medium-bodied palate features a medley of mixed berry compote, violet, pink peppercorn, and subtle herbs that contrast wonderfully well with the more dominant fruit and spice flavors.
Pairing: Traditional pairings include coniglio in porchetta (roast rabbit), tagliatelle al ragù (pasta with meat sauce), and grigliata mista (mixed grilled meats), which all complement the wine's rich flavors. For more contemporary options, consider serving it alongside grilled lamb chops, roasted duck breast, or wild mushroom risotto. It also pairs well with hearty dishes like braised short ribs, eggplant Parmesan, and the honey-soy braised pork dish featured below. Are you in an “appetizer for dinner” or “take away” mood? Not to worry. Cheese and charcuterie, pâté and Rillettes, sweet and sour pork or chicken, pork and rice dishes like Mongolian pork, Taiwanese braised pork with rice, or sweet caramelized pork with rice, chicken or beef teriyaki, kalbi, and gyros or kofta are all gratifying, low-stress options for a great experience.
Honey-Soy Braised Pork With Lime and Ginger
By Sarah DiGregorio
About. The story of Luchetti Winery begins with a vision that has been passed down through generations. Giovanni Luchetti founded the winery in the early 20th century as a small, family-run vineyard focused on cultivating local grape varieties. Giovanni, a man influenced by the land, understood the potential of the Marche region, particularly the Castelli di Jesi area, which boasts a rich history of wine production dating back to Roman times.
Mario Lucchetti, Giovanni's descendant, continued this legacy with a particular focus on Lacrima di Morro d'Alba, one of the local indigenous varietals in the rural area of Le Marche. Starting in the 1980s with just a few acres of this varietal, Mario's passion centered on restoring the importance of the area’s native grapes. Under his stewardship, the estate expanded to 14 hectares by 2004 and has continued to grow. Mario’s dedication to Lacrima di Morro d'Alba, alongside his wife Teresa, his son Paolo, and daughter-in-law Tiziana, has made the winery a reference point for this unique wine.
The Castelli di Jesi area, where Luchetti Winery is located, offers a unique microclimate ideal for cultivating Verdicchio, the region's most famous grape variety. The vineyard is situated on gentle slopes with a mix of clay and limestone soils, which provide excellent drainage and mineral content, essential for producing wines with structure and complexity. The potassium-rich, iron-poor soils in the area are particularly beneficial for the Lacrima di Morro d'Alba vines, helping to create wines of great power and warmth while maintaining a highly aromatic profile. Lacrima di Morro d'Alba, the winery's focal point, is an indigenous dark purple grape that exemplifies the Marche wine region. Historical records show this grape has been harvested in the narrow region around Morro d'Alba since medieval times.
The wines are crafted under the guidance of Alberto Mazzoni, one of Marche’s brightest minds in winemaking, who also serves as a consulting winemaker at the standout Sartarelli estate. Organic farming methods, hand-harvesting, and careful selection of grapes ensure that only the best fruit is used in their wines.
The proximity to the Adriatic Sea brings cooling breezes that moderate the temperatures, while the Apennine Mountains to the west offer protection from harsh weather, creating a balanced environment where the grapes can thrive. This unique combination of factors allows Luchetti’s Verdicchio and Lacrima di Morro d'Alba wines to develop a distinct character marked by vibrant acidity, elegant minerality, and a remarkable aging potential.
In recent years, Mario’s son Paolo, who completed his degree in enology, has joined the family business, working alongside his father to carry the tradition into the following decades. The younger generation brings new ideas and techniques, including modern technology in the cellar, such as temperature-controlled fermentation and stainless steel tanks, to enhance the precision and consistency of their wines. However, they remain steadfast in their commitment to the traditional methods that have defined the winery for decades.
Wine Notes: This Lacrima di Morro d'Alba appellation wine is made from 100% Lacrima grapes, with an alcohol content of 14.5%. It is sourced from southeast-facing vineyards located 180-220 meters above sea level with an average vine age of 15-20 years. After the grapes were harvested by hand, they were destemmed and soft pressed into temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, where the fermentation took place over about 14 days with daily pumpovers. The wine aged for three months in stainless steel tanks, then three months in bottle prior to release.
