Fate can have lovely consequences. The Bea family of Umbria is one of the great domaines of Italy. But we have been additionally blessed as we marched together with Giampiero Bea as he made the acquaintance of the Sisters of the Cistercian order living and working at their monastery in Vitorchiano, ninety minutes or so north of Rome in the Lazio district.
Here at this quiet outpost eighty women of this religious order organically work vineyards and orchards. Under the guidance of Bea, they produce two wines as honest and sympathetic and gracious as they are. The vineyards are planted to a series of four essentially local white grape varieties: Malvasia, Verdicchio, Grechetto and Trebbiano.
