Possa

Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre, Liguria

Terraces perched above the sea like the ones set up for winemaking in Cinque Terre cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Azienda Agricola Possa is a farm and winery in Riomaggiore.

Samuele Heydi Bonanini, artisan producer of natural wines and artist of heroic viticulture started producing wine in 2004. “Despite all the difficulties that I encountered in the Cinque Terre – from bureaucratic complications to the narrow spaces that do not allow for any machines but only manual work – I was able to build a farm of 14.000 m² and achieve remarkable results.”

Bonanini recalls: “The first decision I had to take was whether to follow the market demand or to follow the identity of this territory. I did not hesitate and went for the second choice. I studied and recovered different autochthonous varieties that had almost disappeared. In the wine cellar, I re-proposed the use of wood – not necessarily durmast – but the woods of the local tradition, such as acacia, chestnut and cherry-tree.”

His efforts include safeguarding local products that do not have a famous name like the Sciacchetrà. That’s why he brought back into production an ancient passito made of red grapes and an infusion in local peach leaves. Apart from the vineyards, the farm is also involved in beekeeping and the production of integral honey plus a small plantation of lemon trees used for limoncello and jams.