TRAVELING BETWEEN HILLS AND MOUNTAINS TO DISCOVER THE LACRIMA MORRO D'ALBA

Our journey begins in the discovery of the Lacrima Morro d'Alba among the wineries that produce it:  thanks to the tradition and to some producers in the territory's pride all the stocks of Vitis vinifera grape cultivated with Lacrima vine obtained DOC denomination, otherwise would have been explanted in favor of others. It is said that the name "Lacrima" comes from the fact that some berries, when fully mature, break and, consequently, "shed tears". Initially the DOC area included only Morro d'Alba, now the area has been extended to surrounding towns, too. Morro d'Alba is our starting point, heart of the homonymous denomination, and we continue towards the inland, in the area marked by the River Esino path: an area characterized by gently rolling hills where, on our way, we can see villages as Belvedere Ostrense, Ostra Vetere, Serra de Conti and Montecarotto and then we continue towards the Apennines with Maiolati Spontini and Castelplanio. In our journey will be touched some towns included in the probably most famous denomination of the region: the Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi. These are the steps of an itinerary where art, history and nature will satisfy even the most demanding visitors thanks to its beauty and variety of places.
MORRO D’ALBA? Highway A14, exit Senigallia, direction Ostra, after about 8 km you will find a crossroads for Morro d'Aba (16 km from the exit); Highway A14, exit Ancona Nord, direction Chiaravalle, then Monte San Vito, and finally Morro d'Alba (14 km from the exit ); Throughout history Morro d'Alba has undergone several changes of its name (from Morro to Morro Senigalliese, to Morro di Jesi to Morro d'Alba). The current designation was given in 1862 following a Board resolution of the town of Morro. It has the distinction of being the only fortified town in Italy, having walls crossed, along their entire length by a walkway, covered and equipped with arcades: the famous "Scarpa". This city wall has the shape of an irregular pentagon with six bastions. In the course of time has undergone several renovations including one, built in 1654, during which it was authorized the construction of houses within the walls. To visit the Town Hall and the Church of San Gaudenzio, both from eighteenth-century, and the Museum of sharecropping art, which houses many objects from traditional work.

Wineries to visit: ??Azienda Agricola Lucchetti?Via Santa Maria del Fiore, 17 60030 Tel e Fax +39 0731 63314 Web www.mariolucchetti.it?Email info@mariolucchetti.it? The company began in the early 80s with the first hectares of "Lacrima Morro d'Alba" vineyard and turned up to the current configuration devoting 90% of the property to vineyards for the production specialized in wines of great prestige. Winery visits by appointment.  ??Azienda Agricola Stefano Mancinelli?Via Roma, 62 60030 Tel +39 0731 63021 Fax +39 0731 635 21 Web www.mancinelli-wine.com ?Email info@mancinelli-wine.com?  A family company, covers 62 hectars, 25 of which are vineyards, the rest are olive grove and arable. In the enterprise winery, mill and distillery, are transformed only the products grown in the property. Winery visits by reservation ??Badiali e Candelaresi di Ronconi Samuele & C. s.n.c.?Via Sant'Amico, 16 60030 Tel e Fax +39 0731 63040  Web www.badialiecandelaresi.it  ?Email info@badialiecandelaresi.it? For more than thirty years has been involved in the production of DOC wines, it has succeeded with dynamic, ongoing commitment and efficiency a modern winery, where current technologies blend wonderfully with traditional systems, achieving significant results in terms of quality and authenticity. The wines represent a happy marriage between innovation and tradition, and a positive response to the needs of developed and refined consumers. Its products are presented with images that convey  old colors, signs and emotions, awakening unexpected hints. Winery visits by appointment ??Marotti Campi ?Fraz. S. Amico, 14 , Loc. S. Amico 60030 MORRO D'ALBA Tel 0731 618027  Fax +39 0731 618 846 ?Web www.marotticampi.it  Email wine.marotticampi@tin.it? Here, for over a century, the Marotti Campi family has owned lands and from sharecropping farm has been transforming in a company primarily involved in the wine field with the current 52 hectares of vines. In 1999 the passion for the vineyard has prompted the family to build a modern winery to enhance the heritage of typical characteristic offered by the vines. With this commitment they have initiated a road of continuous investments for the entire chain quality which is controlled in every step since they only vinified their own grapes. Winery visits by reservation. Vicari??  ?Via Pozzo Buono, 3 60030  Tel e Fax +39 0731 63164 Web www.vicarivini.it  Email info@vicarivini.it? With devotion and wisdom, the Vicari family is always looking for the highest quality, expressed in the same memory of the wines. The tradition rooted in time and experience allow them to obtain wines of great value. Winery visits by appointment

BELVEDERE OSTRENSE? A few kilometers and we are in Belvedere Ostrense, in the Misa river valley. A small medieval village, whose origins are around the twelfth century. The monks gathered the surviving populations  from the Goths of Alaric raids, helping them to cultivate fields to rebuild homes, abbeys and to build fortifications, which would hinder the ambitions of neighboring landowners. One of these was built on the highest hill from which the name "Belvedere". In 1862, the Town Council, decided to add the name Ostrense, in order to promote a better geographical location, emphasizing its proximity to the old and famous town Ostra.

Wineries to visit:??Landi?Via Gavigliano 16 Tel e Fax +39 0731 62353 Web www.aziendalandi.it   ?Email aziendalandi@aziendalandi.it?The company was founded in the '50s by Sergio Landi with a property of 4 hectares of land converted to cultivation of typical vines of the territory as Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi and Lacrima di Morro d'Alba, already appreciated for its quality by Federico Barbarossa in 1167. Currently the company is run by his grandson Luciano and covers an area of 20 hectares 16 of which in vineyards. Winery visits by appointment

OSTRA VETERE? At about 15 kilometers is Ostra Vetere, ancient center of medieval origin, whose historical and artistic events are linked to the presence of important religious communities. The urban terraces in the city center offer evocative images and recalls: nimble steps (like the ones that leads from Porta Pesa to Santa Maria di Piazza), characteristic views ( la costarella which branches off from the entrance of Via Mazzini up to Porta Nuova). The town's location also offers the opportunity to enjoy unique panoramic views: from the "lookout" in front of the Town Hall, from the square located between Piazza della Libertà and Via Mazzini, from the characteristic "Giardinetti" and along various sections of the town walls.

Winery to visit: ??Azienda Agricola Bucci ?Via Cona, 30 , Loc. Pongelli 60010 OSTRA VETERE    Tel e Fax +39 071 964179?Web www.villabucci.com  Email bucciwines@villabucci.com? The company has an area of 400 hectares, of which 26 are vineyards Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC Classico, Montepulciano and Sangiovese. For four years has applied the organic farming technique. ?Winery visits by appointment

SERRA DE’ CONTI? Serra de' Conti is one of many medium-sized towns that populate the region of Marche. Thanks to its good state of preservation, it's still a quite significant example of thirteenth-century urban layout  adapted and transformed, in the later Middle Ages and in modern age, under the pressure of economic and social changes. It's a 'Slow food' garrison for the production of grass peas (a poor legume used for soups ..), to which is dedicated a Festival, the last weekend of November.

Winery to visit:?? Casalfarneto?Via Farneto, 16 60030 SERRA DE' CONTI Tel e Fax +39 0731 889001  Web  www.casalfarneto.it Email info@casalfarneto.it ?The company covers an area of 60 hectares, located on a hill overlooking the valley towards the Apennines. The company's goal is to position itself on high quality standards. ?Winery visits by appointment

MONTECAROTTO? For many centuries has acquired the connotation of one of the sixteen castles of Jesi Contey, Montecarotto ideally represents the encounter between the Esino and Misa valleys. The landscape  from the walls of this town is beautiful: the gaze is able to embrace almost the whole province of Ancona, caressing the valleys of rivers until reaching the peaks of the Apennines and the Gola della Rossa. Best time to visit this town is in the early days of July, during the event Verdicchio in festival, where hundreds of Verdicchio bottles are uncorked accompanied by bread and cold cuts.

Wineries to visit:??Agricola Sabbionare?Via Sabbionare, 10 60036 MONTECAROTTO Tel e Fax +39 0731 889004  Web   www.sabbionare.it?Email sabbionare@libero.it? The company was founded about 25 years ago from a small family-run winery. Over the years it has realized expansion plans allowing the improvement of the production cycle. Winery visits by appointment.

Terre Cortesi Moncaro  ?Via Piandole, 7/a 60032 MONTECAROTTO Tel +39 0731 89245  Fax +39 0731 892 37 ?Web  www.moncaro.com  Email terrecortesi@moncaro.com? As in other situations of this Land, there is the strong wish and desire to finally reveal the beauty and goodness of its products. Moncaro believes in it: there must be a way to get to be known, speaking to the world, but without "screaming": giving quality and service with personality and style. Speaking, in other words, the language of the global world being, however, strongly attached to their own land and their culture. Has always, in fact, committed in the work of selection and improvement of the vineyards, with particular attention to the cultivation techniques to improve the environment in the country as well as product quality, the Moncaro over the years has specialized its production by focusing on Marche. Visits in the winery by appointment

MAIOLATI SPONTINI ?Maiolati Spontini is located at mt. 405 above sea level and has a population of 400 inhabitants. In the last thirty years there has been an increase in population due primarily to the development of the village Moie, whose name is very common in the Marche region, especially in the diminutive form Moiette, derived from the medieval Latin Mollie or Mollia used to indicate wetlands or ponding of water. Our wineries are both in the small village of Moie

Wineries to visit:??Monte Schiavo - La Vite?Via Vivaio , Loc. Moie 60030 MAIOLATI SPONTINI Tel +39 0731 700385  Fax +39 0731 703 359      Web www.monteschiavo.it   Email  monteschiavo@puntomedia.it? Monte Schiavo wants to stand in the market for the constant search for quality with productions of excellence and production processes aligned to the most modern international standards of hygiene and purity and with a policy of customer service that focuses on a wide range of selected products, able to meet the needs of all distribution channels, from wineshops to restaurants. Winery visits by appointment Azienda Agricola Mancini?Via Santa Lucia, 7 , Loc. Moie 60030 Tel +39 0731 702975 Fax +39 0731 703 364   ?Web www.manciniwines.it  Email mancini@manciniwines.it? The company is currently managed by Benito Mancini and by his three sons. The headquarter is located in the heart of its vineyards of indigenous origin such as Verdicchio and Sangiovese. winery visits by appointment

CASTELPLANIO ?The origin of the name is linked to the historical events of the nearby abbey of St. Benedict dei Frondigliosi, already mentioned in documents from 1199 and dependent to the not far Abbey of St. Elena in Serra San Quirico. The construction of the castle in a flat position in relation to the abbey of St. Benedict has determined the name in Castel del Piano, from which Castelplanio. Several interesting place to visit:?• The Abbey of San Benedetto de 'Frondigliosi, completely restored and partly destined to holiday house. In simple and austere rooms but equipped with modern comforts can accommodate groups of up to 60 people (info and reservations. +39 0731 811 173). ? • The Church of Sant'Anna: unused for several decades now, it's a very pretty little church with an adjoining rectory, dedicated to Sant'Anna.Some events:?• La Contesa del Formaggio end of June;?• Palio della mongolfiera, second week-end of July;?• Sagra della Crescia sul Panaro, end of July .??Fazi Battaglia?Via Roma, 117 60032

Fazi Battaglia?Via Roma, 117 60032  CASTELPLANIO Tel +39 0731 81591 Fax+39 0731 814 149 ?Web www.fazibattaglia.it  Email info@fazibattaglia.it?It's the company that first promoted the development of Verdicchio in the second half of the twentieth century. In the sixties, Fazi Battaglia reached considerable dimensions and to meet the strong demand for an always guaranteed quality Verdicchio started to purchase other selected lands, which have been transformed in the most beautiful vineyards in the Classic area of Castelli di Jesi and that reaches today the extension of 300 hectares. Visits by appointment.

Accommodations

Marotti Campi ?Fraz. S. Amico, 14 , Loc. S. Amico 60030 MORRO D'ALBA Tel +39 0731 618027  Fax +39 0731 618 846  Web www.marotticampi.it  Email wine.marotticampi@tin.it? Landi?Via Gavigliano 16   BELVEDERE OSTRENZE  Tel e Fax +39 0731 62353 ?Web www.aziendalandi.it   Email aziendalandi@aziendalandi.it?Casalfarneto?Via Farneto, 16 60030 SERRA DE' CONTI Tel e Fax +39 0731 889001  Web  www.casalfarneto.it?Email info@casalfarneto.it

Dining

Marotti Campi ?Fraz. S. Amico, 14 , Loc. S. Amico 60030 MORRO D'ALBA Tel 0731 618027  Fax +39 0731 618 846  ?Web www.marotticampi.it  Email wine.marotticampi@tin.it?Landi?Via Gavigliano 16   BELVEDERE OSTRENZE  Tel e Fa x+39 0731 62353?Web www.aziendalandi.it   Email aziendalandi@aziendalandi.it?Casalfarneto?Via Farneto, 16 60030 SERRA DE' CONTI Tel e Fax +39 0731 889001  Web  www.casalfarneto.it ?Email info@casalfarneto.it