Marfisa (A’Giunta) 2022 – Domaine de l’Agramante Overview

The Marfisa (A’Giunta) 2022 from Domaine de l’Agramante is a Vin de France from the Rhône, crafted from 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah. Produced with third-year conversion négociant grapes, this wine embodies innovation while staying true to Rhône tradition. With only 5,300 bottles made, it offers exclusivity, freshness, and elegance, delivering a natural and authentic expression of its terroir.

History of the Wine

Marfisa is part of the “A’Giunta” project, created by Domaine de l’Agramante to highlight grapes from selected vineyards undergoing organic conversion. The goal is to give voice to parcels that, while not estate-owned, follow the same philosophy of environmental respect and biodiversity. The 2022 vintage expresses the synergy of Grenache and Syrah, two emblematic Rhône varietals, through artisanal production and limited quantities.

Vineyard Philosophy and Winemaking Approach

The grapes grow on sandy-loamy terraces that provide natural drainage and minerality. Harvested by hand, each parcel and varietal is vinified separately: berries are destemmed, fermentation takes place at controlled temperatures, and short macerations with daily pump-overs ensure balanced extraction. Each cuvée matures for five months in stainless steel before blending, with no fining or filtration, and minimal intervention, preserving purity and freshness.

Tasting Notes

The color is deep ruby red with violet reflections. On the nose, notes of red berries, fresh cherries, wild strawberries, floral hints, and a touch of spice emerge. On the palate, it is fresh and vibrant, with fine tannins, balanced acidity, and a harmonious, persistent finish.

Food Pairings

Marfisa (A’Giunta) 2022 pairs beautifully with Mediterranean cuisine, roasted poultry, grilled white meats, rustic vegetable stews, and medium-aged cheeses. Its freshness makes it equally enjoyable with lightly spiced dishes, enhancing flavors without overpowering them.

Technical Sheet

• Designation: Vin de France

• Vintage: 2022

• Estate: Domaine de l’Agramante

• Grapes: 90% Grenache, 10% Syrah (négociant, 3rd-year conversion)

• Region: Rhône

• Soil: Sandy-loamy terraces

• Viticulture: In organic conversion

• Harvest: Manual

• Vinification: Parcel and varietal separated, destemmed, temperature-controlled fermentation, short macerations, daily pump-overs

• Aging: 5 months in stainless steel, then blending

• Fining/Filtration: None

• SO2 Added: Minimal

• Production: 5,300 bottles

• Alcohol: 13%

• Serving Temperature: 14-16°C

Domaine de l’Agramante – The story of a dream

The Domaine de l’Agramante was born in 2018 in Sabran, in the southern Rhône Valley, as the result of a personal journey even before an agricultural one. At its heart lies Carlo La Rocca, a young Sicilian engineer who, after fifteen years in the petrochemical industry, felt the need to radically change his life.

The search for freedom, the desire for authenticity, and a deep attraction to the world of wine—until then cultivated quietly—became a call that could no longer be ignored.

Carlo abandoned a well-established career to embrace uncertainty with courage, convinced that working the land could restore a deeper sense of time and meaning to his life.

The name of the estate carries both emotional and cultural roots: Agramante is the King of Africa described by Ariosto in Orlando Innamorato, a fierce and powerful character who, for Carlo, recalls the stories his father told upon returning from numerous trips to Africa, as well as the Sicilian puppet theatre of his childhood.

The choice of this name was far from accidental: Agramante symbolizes both imagination and freedom, childhood memories and a spirit of adventure. Giving the domaine this name meant binding his personal history to his new project, crafting wines that carry with them memory, tradition, and a strong individual identity.

The transformation from engineer to winemaker did not come by chance but through rigorous training. Carlo studied for two years in Beaune, the heart of Burgundian viticulture, where he built technical knowledge and sharpened his sensitivity.

A decisive role was played by the Thibon-Maccagno family of Mas de Libian, renowned Rhône vignerons who hosted him in their cellar and allowed him to vinify there for two years.

This collaboration was not merely practical support but a true apprenticeship, where Carlo learned to respect the land, to care for details, and to build coherence between the vineyard and the bottle. These lessons shaped the foundation and philosophy of the Domaine de l’Agramante.

Philosophy in the vineyard

From an agronomic perspective, the estate has grown quickly yet consistently with its principles of sustainability. In 2019 it expanded from 1.2 to 4.25 hectares of vineyards, planted on sandy-silty terraces.

Soil vitality is maintained with cover crops, enriching the earth with organic matter and improving structure.

Treatments are limited to copper and sulfur when strictly necessary, while vineyard work is carried out manually with the utmost respect for the vines.

Harvest is performed exclusively by hand, in small crates, allowing careful grape selection and preserving the integrity of the fruit—an essential step to ensure expressive, high-quality wines.

Winemaking approach

Vinification follows the same philosophy of respect and precision. After complete destemming, the grapes are only partially crushed to preserve freshness and aromatic potential.

During fermentation, the must undergoes daily pump-overs, gently extracting color, tannins, and aromatic compounds without forcing balance.

Maceration is deliberately limited to twelve days, a choice reflecting Carlo’s intention to privilege finesse and drinkability over sheer power. Alcoholic fermentation is followed spontaneously by malolactic fermentation, bringing smoothness and harmony.

After fermentation, the wine is separated from the coarse lees, but remains in contact with the fine lees, which nurture and enrich its complexity during aging. Clarification happens naturally through sedimentation, with no invasive interventions.

Only before bottling is a minimal dose of sulfur added, between 10 and 15 mg/L, sufficient for stability without altering purity. Every step, from vineyard to bottle, is guided by a single principle: accompany the wine without forcing it, allowing the terroir to speak.

The result is a young project already defined by strong identity, combining Carlo’s Mediterranean energy with the Rhône’s artisanal traditions.

The wines of Domaine de l’Agramante stand out for their authenticity, respect for raw material, and their ability to express the character of sandy-silty soils.

These are not crafted or manipulated wines, but sincere expressions of a human and cultural journey: bottles that tell the story of a life choice, the echo of family traditions, and the desire for freedom that has guided Carlo La Rocca through this remarkable adventure.