San Zopito’ day

San Zopito’ day:  the Festa di San Zopito is the traditional annual celebration in Loreto Aprutino (province of Pescara, Abruzzo, Italy) in honor of San Zopito Martire, the town’s patron saint. It is one of the most deeply felt religious and cultural festivals in the local calendar, blending devotion, legend, folklore, community and popular festivity.

The story:

On a warm Sunday, May 22 of the year 1711, a slow procession came winding through the Abruzzo hills. It was on its way from the bishop’s palace in Penne towards the small town of Loreto Aprutino.

They were bringing two recently acquired relics to the local church.

The relics consisted in a box with an arm and the skull of a rather obscure saint, San Zopito. He had died a martyr, or so the story goes, around the year 300 AD in Rome, and his remains had been buried in the Vatican deposits, until in 1711 Pope Clemens XI donated them to the clergy of Loreto Aprutino.

While the believers and their treasure were happily on their way, they passed some fields where a farmer was busy ploughing with two oxen.

At that moment one of the 2 animals moved away from the farmer, ignoring his calls and approaching the procession, then it bowed soberly and spontaneously as a sign of reverence.

Since then, every year, an ox carries the relics on Whitsuntide Monday through Loreto Aprutino.

The celebration:

The Festa di San Zopito is nowadays a colourful 2-day festival celebrating this oxen moment. One the most beautiful rural one Abruzzo where the locals will attend church services, participate in religious processions, enjoy live music and street food.

The trained ox, nicknamed the ‘White Knight’ wears a scarlet cloak with images of the Saints, and relics, kneels and gives praise in specific areas of the town as he is a tramite (vehicle of the divine).

A local primary schoolgirl, dressed like an angel, stands on its back representing San Zopito.

Did you know that….

Torre Raone‘s Montepulciano d’Abruzzo  San Zopito,  celebrates the spirit of the town’s patron saint.

Drawing its name from the beloved figure at the heart of Loreto Aprutino’s most cherished festival, this wine reflects not just the character of the land, but the living culture and devotion of its people.

Rich, expressive, and deeply rooted in local identity,
San Zopito is more than a wine — it’s a tribute in every sip to tradition, community, and the enduring soul of Abruzzo.

Learn more about Torre Raone’s San Zopito and the other wines.  Take a look at their website ⇒

torreraone.com

Weingut Klaus Lentsch NEWSPAPER

WEINGUT KLAUS LENTSCH
NEWSPAPER

Pinot Grigio Ramato MÄÄ , Weissburgunder Riserva and news frokm the vineyards.

Pinot Grigio Ramato “Mää”

With the Pinot Grigio Ramato “Mää,” Weingut Klaus Lentsch consciously embarks on a new path. The idea stems from a desire to reinterpret Pinot Grigio, giving it greater expression, depth, and personality.

  • Process: The grapes macerate on the skins for six to eight days, taking on a signature copper hue while developing intense aromas and a more mineral structure.

  • Aging: Approximately 15% of the wine matures in wood for one year before being blended with the young wine.

  • Profile: The result is a powerful yet balanced wine that shows its best qualities, particularly in spring and summer.

The label also breaks sharply from tradition: it was created with the help of Artificial Intelligence and, presumably, a healthy dose of imagination—an element that underscores the wine’s creative character and the winery’s philosophy of blending tradition with new ideas.

 – Klaus Lentsch-

Wine of the Month:
Weissberg Pinot Bianco Riserva 2022

With the Weissberg Pinot Bianco Riserva, Weingut Klaus Lentsch highlights the elegant and characterful side of Pinot Bianco.

The wine impresses with its fine freshness, creamy texture, and a harmonious balance between fruit and minerality. Perfect as a refined aperitif or paired with fish dishes and Mediterranean cuisine, the Weissberg is a versatile white wine with distinct personality and a long finish.

From the Vineyard:
A Very Strong Start to the 2026 Season

The 2026 vintage is developing very positively. Regular and uniform budding is creating the best conditions for a balanced growing season and excellent grape quality.

The vines appear healthy and vigorous, and the first clusters are already forming in the vineyards. Nature seems to be slightly ahead of schedule this year, suggesting an interesting and promising vintage ahead.

Click herebelow for the  official issue of Klaus Lentsch’s newspaper

Italian
German

Awards for Binè

Awards for Binè: 91 Points Falstaff for their Gavi DOCG “11” 2024

Made from 100% Cortese, this round and elegant Gavi is remarkably versatile — equally at home with grilled fish and seafood, sushi, vegetable dishes and quiche, white meats, fresh salads, and aperitivo bites.

Factsheet (IT)

Cascina Binè is a family-run winery and agritourism estate located in Novi Ligure (Alessandria), in the heart of the Gavi wine region of Piedmont, Italy.

Novi Ligure is one of the 11 municipalities within the Gavi DOCG wine region. The 11 hectares of vines form a single large vineyard, situated on the best-exposed slopes—facing south/southwest—of two adjacent hills.

Cascina Binè is primarily known as a high-quality producer of Gavi DOCG (made from the Cortese grape) and Barbera wines. The estate is managed by the Ghio family, with brothers Niccolò and Lorenzo leading the modern operations.

A unique feature of the Binè vineyards, represented in the company logo, is the small round vineyard, where the rows are planted in a radial pattern to form a natural amphitheater.

More info?
Take a look at their website

bine.wine