Address
316 West Geer St, Suite A, Durham, NC 27701
Hours
Mon. Closed
Tue. - Thu. 11am - 9pm
Fri. & Sat. 11am - 10pm
Sun. 11am - 8pm
Downtown Durham's neighborhood bottle shop and wine bar offering curbside pickup, local delivery, and shipping to 43 states.
Free Delivery in Durham & Chapel Hill
with a $120 Minimum Order.
Raleigh, Cary, Hillsborough and Surrounding
zip codes minimum $200.
We cannot ship to ND, SD, NH, UT, MS, PA, or KY. email info@louelladurham.com for shipping options
Viticulture: Certified Organic and Biodynamic
Soil type: Sandy limestone soil on a southwest facing slope. .5 hectare plot, 4,000 plants per hectare.
Elevation: Slope faces the sea at 250 meters above sea level.
Grapes: 50% Sangiovese, 20% Sarah, 20% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc.
Method of fermentation: Maceration and fermentation happens in small tronconic barrels made of French oak where it stays for one year and in ages in bottle for six months before release.
Certified biodynamic. The precise blend varies by vintage, but a typical year is 50% Sangiovese, 20% Syrah, 20% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. From a three hectare parcel planted on sandy-loam soils at a density of 4,500 plants per hectare. South-facing, 250 meters above sea level. Maceration and fermentation happens in small tronconic barrels made of French oak. I Pogeo stays in these vessels for one year and in bottle for six months before release by the estate. 8,000 bottles made.
Extravagantly flowering rose bushes line the entrance to Fattoria Castellina’s cellar. The building is easy to miss, the gated entrance from the state road requires a very sharp turn, the cellar and its heavy metal and glass door are tucked behind a cluster of seemingly unrelated small buildings. Inside stone walls Fattoria Castellina is cool, quiet. There are a series of formal tasting areas and a small product showroom that feels well-maintained but infrequently used. Beyond is an office. The entire facility radiates calm, meticulous care, a sense of order. Fermentation and aging areas are compartmentalized behind heavy doors. The space is small but feels large. High ceilings, intelligent organization, reassuring purpose.
It is on the edge of Capria e Limite, a normal small Tuscan town. Sleepy. The road north from the winery is steep, winding through olive groves and past a small, well-maintained restaurant. Near the top is a gravel drive that leads Elisabetta and Fabio Montomoli’s farm. A teenage daughter works in the solar-powered kitchen that serves the agriturismo. Elisabetta’s family owned this land. She runs the businesses, while Fabio is in charge of the agriculture. Eleven hectares of vineyards (including a few old fields planted in the albarello method) are sited among 110 total hectares. The farm has a lot of forest, and reaching vineyards can be an eye-opening off-road adventure. Fabio farms 30 hectares of Frantoio, Moraiolo, Leccio and Pendolino olives and uses older methods (including a manual stone press) to process the oil. They also make pasta di semolato di grano duro varietà San Carlo, a specific local grain, cut with bronze dyes and made into two shapes of tasty dried pasta.
Elisabetta speaks often of the importance of local, and the estate is dedicated to organic mixed-use agriculture. Alongside vision, the farm has an exceptional location, equally important to the quality of these wines. Their Vermentino is full-bodied and smells of Mediterranean herbs. It is profoundly shaped by the relative proximity of this western outpost of Chianti to the sea. As we drive slowly along rutted narrow vineyard roads nearly enclosed by wild plants, Fabio and his energetic winery assistant Valentina point out how much of the native vegetation of this region is the same that you would see along the Ligurian and Tuscan coastline. Sea breezes and resulting coastal climate profoundly shape their land, as does the mountainous terrain and elevation. In the age of global warming, Fattoria Castellina makes balanced wines because of their specific, special terroir. The cool red berry component to the estate’s Chianti Montalbano, a wine that grows in aromatic complexity and appeal after being open 24 hours, is directly tied to the tempering impact of high elevation and the sea on Tuscany’s fierce summer heat.
Valentina, articulated her own compelling, engaging beliefs and the level-headed vision of Fabio, who has the long view, patience and work ethic of a true farmer.
“People in Italy do not think of agriculture as the base of the society. They think of it as something “extra” which is a problem. There is not enough biodiversity.”
“Working with respect for nature and the microorganisms in the soil is important. We work without chemicals. The earth is very rich and alive.”
“We don’t do anything in the cellar (enzymes, stabilizers, etc.) other than just preserve what nature gives. Our wines get their stability in the bottle. They are alive, they change. There is an evolution.”
Music to my ears.
LouElla is Downtown Durham's neighborhood bottle shop, bar, and event space offering curated wine, craft beer, and fortified selections from family operated producers. The business takes its name and mission from owner and proprietor Campbell Davis's Great Aunt LouElla who was much beloved for her warmth, hospitality, and generous spirit. Whether we are serving you at the bar or helping you pick that perfect bottle to host your celebration, our mission is to share LouElla's hospitality with the community.
Campbell Davis
Owner & Manager
For Cam Davis, LouElla is the culmination of more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality and beverage industry. Cam has successfully managed some of Durham’s finest locally and nationally recognized establishments, including Hutchin's Garage, Guglhupf, Rue Cler, and Durham Catering Company. He brings a wealth of wine and beverage knowledge, not only from his extensive restaurant experience, but also from his tenure as Durham Sales Manager for wine distributor Bordeaux, Fine and Rare.
Hours
Mon. Closed
Tue. - Thu. 11am - 9pm
Fri. & Sat. 11am - 10pm
Sun. 11am - 8pm