Winery / Producer: Leone de Castris (Historic producers since 1665).

Region of Origin: I.G.T. Salento, Apulia (Puglia), Italy.

Grape Variety: 100% Fiano.

Wine Type: Still dessert wine / Passito (Appassimento grapes).

Sweetness Classification: Sweet (Noble natural concentration).

Winemaking: Fiano grapes undergo overripening on the vine and subsequently careful drying in airy crates to concentrate the juices. After extremely slow and delicate pressing to extract the thick nectar, fermentation takes place at controlled temperatures (14°C - 16°C) in stainless steel tanks, naturally stopping due to the high sugar density, leaving a balanced residual sweetness. It undergoes bottle aging before commercialization.

Alcohol Content: 13.0% Vol.

Serving Temperature: 10°C - 12°C (Recommended chilled but not overly cold to allow its complex aromas to open up).

SKU / MPN: IT-LC-PIERALE-DP-500ML

Appearance: Presents an imposing and seductive amber-yellow color, dense and brilliant, with deep golden highlights that reflect its magnificent concentration and elegant evolution in the bottle.

Nose: An extraordinarily rich, broad, and voluptuous olfactory display. Distinct notes of orange blossom honey, dried figs, dates, dried apricots, and candied orange peel stand out. As it opens up, sophisticated hints of toasted almonds, faded white flowers, subtle sweet spices like vanilla, and the characteristic toasted, hazelnut-like touch of ripe Fiano emerge.

Palate: Majestic, dense, sumptuous, and enveloping entry. Its pronounced sweet character immediately fills the palate with flavors of fruit in syrup and dried fruits. However, it unfolds with great elegance thanks to the natural citrus and mineral acidity of the Fiano grape, which impeccably counteracts the sweetness and prevents any trace of heaviness. The finish is extraordinarily long, elegant, and velvety, with a glorious aftertaste of honey and dried fruit notes.

Precision Gourmet Pairing: As a great Italian Fiano passito wine, it is the undisputed king of refined after-dinner occasions. It harmonizes celestially with fine traditional pastry: nut tarts, cream-filled cakes, panettone, almond biscuits (like cantucci), and baked apple or pear desserts. It creates a sublime and iconic contrast when paired with intensely flavored blue cheeses (such as Gorgonzola, Roquefort, or Stilton) accompanied by honey, as well as with premium foie gras. It is also perfectly enjoyed as a 'meditation wine,' consumed on its own at the end of a grand meal.

Suggested Moments:

• Special Celebration: The ultimate finishing touch for weddings, anniversaries, baptisms, or New Year's dinners. Serving a Leone de Castris dessert wine instantly elevates the status of the banquet.
• Romantic Dinner: Its luscious, sophisticated, and sumptuous character, combined with its seductive aromas of candied fruits, creates an atmosphere of intimate luxury and perfect complicity to share with a fine gourmet dessert.
• The Perfect Gift: Coming in a select format and being a highly exclusive Fiano grape wine style, it makes a high-end gift for collectors, connoisseurs, and Italian oenology lovers who appreciate the great sweet elixirs of the Old World.
• Business (Closing Deals): Surprising partners or clients with glasses of Pierale Passito to accompany dessert or coffee at the end of a business meal conveys distinction, opulence, and absolute attention to detail.

What is the specific origin and winery of this dessert wine?

This wine is one of the jewels of the historic Leone de Castris winery, an absolute benchmark in European viticulture. Its specific origin is Salento, a sub-region located within sunny Apulia (Puglia), in the heel of the Italian boot.

Is this wine dry, semi-dry, or sweet?

The Pierale Passito is a strictly sweet wine. It stands out for its generous concentration of natural sugars derived from grape dehydration, offering an exceptionally balanced velvety palate.

What grape variety is this wine made from?

This passito wine is made from 100% the noble white grape Fiano, which is noted for maintaining vibrant acidity and contributing complex notes of nuts and flowers that magnificently balance its sweet profile.

How long can an opened bottle of Pierale Passito last?

Thanks to its high natural sugar concentration and balanced alcohol content, this dessert wine has excellent resistance to oxidation. Once opened, if kept corked in the refrigerator, it can maintain its optimal properties for 2 or 3 weeks without issue.