Meet the Winemaker: Introducing Ilaria of Cocco Winery

We’d like to e-introduce you to a few of the winemakers Vegan Wines has partnered. They are so close to the heart of our mission of bringing you exceptional, naturally vegan wines!  This week, we're excited to introduce Ilaria, the winemaker behind Azienda Agricola Cocco Ilaria – also known as Cocco – a winery located in Montefalco, Umbria, Italy. Alessandro of TanninTime chatted with her on Instagram Live on September 30th. Watch the video (and read our Q&A with her) below to get to know Ilaria and these amazing wines a little better!

Meet more winemakers! Check out our Vegan Wines Events!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuEDQe6hLg9/

Cocco Montefalco Q&A

Ilaria's family has been producing wine for many years in the heart of Italy. We've asked her some questions about what goes into their winemaking process, so check out our Q&A with her below! Here's Ilaria:

Were you born into the wine business? Did you always know this is what you wanted to do? How did you get started?

My father's family has been producing wine for generations, not for business but only for private use. I grew up in a peasant world – love and respect for nature are part of my family history. I studied marketing at university and I had several working experiences, but the call of my land and my roots was stronger, so I went back to Montefalco, and I came back to cultivate my grandparents' land. My winery was born in 2008, but I put out the first bottle in 2018, a vintage 2013. It was ten long years of study, of searching for my way of making wine and my wine style.

What is your favorite part of the winemaking process?

My favorite part is the harvest; for my family it has always been a moment of celebration. I love the smell and the grumbling of the must in fermentation.

Try the Cocco Ilario Camorata Montefalco Rosso or Phonsano Montefalco Sagrantino! 

Your wine is vegan. What sort of techniques or fining agents do you use for the fining and/or clarification process since you don't use animal products? What made you choose to avoid animal products? Is that important to you?

I usually do not use clarifications, producing only red wine, but for the times I do need it, I use bentonite. There are many valid non-animal products, so why not use it? It is important to raise awareness and knowledge about the origin of the products we deal with every day.

How much wine do you produce annually? (Is that considered a large or small production?)

I produce an average of 10.000 bottles per year. Is it considered a very small production, an artisan production. https://www.instagram.com/p/B9CwTZmqph_/

Which wine is your favorite? You can choose more than one!

I produce only three types of wine, so I can't choose one of them... But I can say that the wine most tied to the traditions and memories of my family is the Montefalco Sagrantino Passito.

Can you tell us a little about any environmental and/or sustainability goals of the winery, vineyard, or the property to share with our club members?

I am planning to equip the winery with solar panels to guarantee complete energy autonomy and I'm thinking of converting all the production to organic.

Join us on Instagram for our Wine Time with Italy Series to hear more!

Set a reminder for our IG Live with Ilaria of Cocco and Alessandro of TanninTime on Wednesday, September 30th at 10AM EST! You can find more details here. Follow on Cocco Winery Instagram! Read more on their website!

TanninTime's Alessandra's Interview with Ilaria

Alessandro Ingrosso is our sommelier in Italy. He is personally confirming that wines are naturally vegan wines for Vegan Wines during COVID-19. Check out his interview below and read his blog post on Cocco Ilaria Wines! https://www.instagram.com/tv/CFw7bSAFfXW/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Shop our Italian wines in the shop and join us with a glass! 

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  There are many reasons Vegan Wines creates partnerships with winemakers besides their amazing, naturally vegan wines. Veganism is not just what we eat, but who we are and how we care for the earth and other human beings. We hope that our ethics will become part of the greater wine industry's movement toward transparency.