White Cuvee ANNITA 2020

Il Rio ANNITA 2020 is a distinctive, barrel-fermented Tuscan white wine from the cool hills of Mugello, produced by Paolo Cerrini and Manuela Villimburgo at their tiny family estate near Vicchio, north of Florence. An unusual blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Nero vinified as a white wine, ANNITA demonstrates how varieties more commonly associated with Burgundy and cooler European regions can thrive in Tuscany's Apennine foothills.

The vineyards benefit from clay-rich soils, a continental climate and pronounced day-to-night temperature variations, preserving aromatic intensity and natural acidity. Following careful grape preparation, the wine undergoes fermentation in French oak barriques, including partial malolactic fermentation, before approximately 8 months of barrel maturation and further bottle refinement. This patient approach creates a white wine with considerable texture, depth and ageing potential.

The 2020 offers an inviting bouquet of ripe pear, golden apple, white peach and citrus zest, complemented by acacia blossom, dried herbs, vanilla, toasted almonds and delicate buttery nuances. On the palate, it is dry, medium- to full-bodied, creamy and beautifully rounded, combining ripe orchard fruit with refreshing acidity, gentle oak spice and a long, savoury finish.

Now 6 years old in 2026, ANNITA 2020 is entering a particularly interesting stage of maturity. Its youthful fruit character is giving way to more complex notes of honey, toasted nuts and gentle spice, while the wine's underlying freshness provides balance. Unlike simple, youthful white wines, ANNITA has the richness and structure to reward several years of bottle development.

A fascinating mature Tuscan white – rich, aromatic and beautifully textured, combining Burgundian elegance with a distinctly Italian personality. Ready to enjoy now.