Lago di Bolsena, 50 miles north of Rome, is the largest volcanic and tectonic lake in all of Europe, and was known as the Vulsini Volcano in historic Roman records. It’s last eruption seems to have been in 104 B.C. And it’s been dormant since then. The lake is fed by an aquafir, rainfall and runoff, and is the stronghold of Alta Lazio or Tuscia, it’s Etruscan name. Nestled near the lake is the town of Gradoli, home to many winemakers defining the region. Georgea Marini of @az_georgea_marini, along with her husband Alessandro, farm their little plots of land with 50 year old vines organically and regeneratively, focusing their three wines on long macerations and aging in old barrels. Their Zero 8 Rosso is made from Grecchetto Rosso, long thought to be a clone of Sangiovese, but DNA testing has proved inconclusive. It’s also known as Strozza Volpe or Fox Strangler, a highly atmospheric colloquial name that highlights how atmospheric this landscape is. The wine also wreathes you in an early autumn morning defined by fog and shadows that gives way to sunshine and woodsmoke. Lunch is inspired by the aroma of a spicy tomato sauce cooking on the stove, or a lentil stew with the last of the season’s tomatoes. This is a bright forest-like wine, tart cherry and anise, glimmering and dappled like sunlight on the surface of the lake. Even more nuanced is Georgea’s Aleatico, that ancient grape enjoyed by those ancient Romans. This wine is from both 40 year old and 13 year old vines. Flowers and spice on the nose, ruby red fruits, full yet delicate, a yin and a yang of wine brilliantly finding balance. #marinigeorgea #laziowine #gradoli #zero8 #artisanalcellars #italianwine #redwine