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Pale yellow with greenish highlights. Wide, fresh, fragrant, persistent with a hint of bitter almond. Dry and soft, floral with the typical slightly bitter (in a good way) aftertaste. From one of the best estates of the Marche region comes this juicy rich white that finds its balance in good acidity and finishes round and smooth. Pairs well with white fish, pizza and calamari.

• 100 % - Verdicchio

The name Barbara comes from the Latin word 'barbarus,' which means foreign. Santa Barbara can be dated with certainty from a 6h century Lombardo-Germanic miltary outpost. Here the offspring of ancient ethnic groups, eventually mingled with those of the prevalent culture.

The castle was built in 1200, and its ownership has been many times disputed because of its imposing presence. And suddenly an image comes into focus: Santa Barbara. A seicento painting displayed in the office of the mayor—and also a statue in a niche on the high altar of the eponymous baroque church—a stone arch in the center of the village—all are named for her, as is the estate.

The vineyards grow among these surroundings, which form a natural amphitheater. Here the people live and work, in order to best cultivate indigenous grape varieties such as Verdicchio and Montepulciano. They create innovative blends with international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.

It is a neverending activity, which inspires them to learn continually. Each harvest brings about an important examination of the grapes, and also of the vineyards. None of them were born to the vine—but have learned it with a passion, and learned something every day. Little by little, it all comes to a joyful fruition.

Today they breathe it in, in every corner of the winery—value—they seek it as a deal made with Nature, and pursue filling the perfect bottle for those friends who will surely appreciate our commitment and the quality of the wine.

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi is the most famous and historically noted DOC wine of the Marches.

The vines of the extremely ancient Verdicchio variety, which originated in the region, cover the hills that flank the river Esino. And it is believed that the cultivation of vines in the Marches began in that same area.

At the center of that historic grape-growing district, known as the Castelli di Jesi, stands the community that has given its name to the wine, the ancient Aesis, a Roman colony although probably of Umbrian origin. The history of that town, Jesi, is intertwined with that of its Castelli, of which there remain only the ruins: Castelbellino, Castelplanio, Maiolati, Monte Roberto and Cupramontana.

The reputation of Verdicchio spread from the Roman lands to the barbarians beyond the Alps, who invaded and brought down the empire in the West. When in 410, Alaric, king of the Visigoths, was passing through the Marches on his way to besiege and sack Rome, he reportedly ordered that 40 mules be loaded with barrels of Verdicchio to take along with him because he held that the wine was excellent for maintaining and stimulating the strength of his soldiers.

Verdicchio has been praised in poetry innumerable times over the centuries. Among those who have lauded the wine was the noted 16th century Tuscan poet Pietro Aretino. Despite his reputation as a denigrator of everything and everyone, he had nothing but warm words for the wine's dietetic and gustatory virtues.

Today, the worldwide reputation of Verdicchio, the leading DOC wine of the Marches in terms of quantity, has been further enhanced in respect to prestige and sales by the introduction in Italy and abroad of a new sparkling wine that some estates are now producing, utilizing both the Charmat and the Champenois methods.