Between Heart And Rationality Paula Pacheco Talks About The 2020 Harvest

by Maria Carla Magni

There is one person who represents heart, soul and mind in the Ômina Romana team: she is Paula Pacheco, Argentine-born agronomist and Technical Director since 2007, the year the winery was founded.

What we can see and taste today is also the result of his endless research, dedication and tireless work, lavished year after year in the steady growth of Ômina Romana.

Paula, who calls herself the "mother" of this business, has bet from the very beginning on the strong wine-growing potential of the Lazio region, until recently not well explored, and also thanks to the foresight of entrepreneur Dr Anton F. Bōrner, has set her sights on the possibility of producing quality wine.

Today, with a hint of pride, we can say that the challenge is all but won, while maintaining a constant daily commitment and despite the fact that it is still not easy to break down certain prejudices that point to areas of Italy vocated by definition as the exclusive terrain of "noble wines."

Thanks to perseverance and study, but above all by broadening the horizons and the mind toward a new path, it has been possible to bring splendor back to a territory that is only "younger enologically," but of ancient origins which is that of Latium, where vice versa wine realities of excellence are appearing and that deserve to be explored.

Year after year, the results of applied research in viticulture together with the collection of technical data of the vineyard production cycle as well as the continuous training of field staff have made it possible to raise the bar of quality higher and higher of the material "first grape," together interpreting and outlining the style and identity of Ômina Romana.

In the precise reference of the last harvest labeled 2020, although marked by an unpredictably dramatic year around the world, the vine production cycle gave noteworthy responses, because while lockdown dominated around the world, the budding and ripening of the vine occurred producing surprising and never expected results.

Paula, always charged with excitement, verified once again how much nature continually holds important surprises for humans: the rains, which arrived in time to provide water in the first phase of growth, were very important in dealing with the dry weather that followed, though always breezy, thanks to the fresh air from the sea.

In fact, it is worth mentioning the strategic location in the Velletri area where the Ômina Romana vineyards are located, characterized by a particular microclimate that has allowed the growth of phytosanitary healthy grapes.

Paula prepares her team of collaborators with extreme care by guiding them in the scrupulous selection of the grape harvest - reduced to the essentials - to ensure the quality level of each variety. It should be pointed out that the selection does not only concern the harvest stage, but rather takes place as early as the first shoots in early spring and continues with the "green pruning" that is decided according to the particular climatic conditions to be faced until it concludes in the final stage of ripening. In short, vine cultivation is the interpretation of each individual vintage.

The warm weather in July and August, typical temperature fluctuations-which become more evident in the final stage of ripening-and the few rains since mid-September have meant for the 2020 harvest perfectly healthy grapes in the best synthesis at the aromatic level.

Much favored by the climate were the late red grapes, such as Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, showed excellent phenolic maturity, in fact the grape seeds on sensory tasting showed velvety and crisp tannins, without any astringency. The typical microclimate of the area allows the late red grapes to be brought to this state of particular aromatic consistency, avoiding over-ripening that would compromise the qualitative result. 

The harvest date is decided individually for each grape variety and clone based on the oenological objective that Simone Sarnà, Ômina Romana's winemaker, evaluates for each label that will be made with the chosen grapes in the perfect state of ripeness and therefore ideal for guaranteeing the Ômina Romana style. It is important to note that at base, the harvest evaluations are different for what will be used to make up, for example, a structured and complex Viognier from the Ars Magna line vs. a Viognier fresher that will be used to make up theblend of a Hermes.

The evaluation of harvest date also changes between red grapes and white grapes, generally white grapes are early while red grapes are late. However, an overlap of harvesting between late white and early red can sometimes occur depending on the winemaking objective to be achieved, the latter element is always ultimately dictated by the rhythm of nature that indicates the right time and is what makes one vintage variable with the other.

Last but not least, what Paula cares deeply about is the coordination of the work with her team that allows for the accomplishment of a result as the harmonious fruit between what nature offers and what is accomplished in the "thought" work of man. The Ômina Romana team performs a fundamental task during the harvest and becomes an indispensable element with the final result.

The 2020 harvest required double the processing capacity necessarily leading to an expansion on manpower that could ensure both the precise timing on the harvest and the qualitative selection of grapes. eye on solidarity.

And for this very particular harvest of the year 2020, Paula Pacheco has deliberately turned an eye to solidarity and sustainability, values always fundamental to Omina Romana's production concept, involving alongside the winery's stable team also thenon-profit Mato Grosso Association, aimed at benefiting the indigent populations of Central and South America, with the addition of all-Italian labor. 

Paula personally selected and trained the staff using the company's professional method with the aim of creating a dynamic environment with a great sense of sharing and aimed at solidarity . The perfectly integrated team approached the work in the vineyard with positivity and great fellowship, spirit of service, ethical sense and shared values. The proceeds of the work produced were entirely donated to the Association in favor of needy villages between Colombia, Peru and Mexico.    

Ômina Romana is exactly "Mens et Manus," knowledge but also manual dexterity and feeling, and-despite everything that happened in 2020-it is only right to acknowledge that even this challenge was a great success for Ômina Romana...and that is what the phoenix, the symbol of the winery, teaches every day!