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5218 Lawton Avenue
Oakland, CA 94114

510-654-9159

Oliver McCrum Wines has been importing small production Italian wine and distributing to fine retail and restaurant establishes throughout California since 1994. Over time, our portfolio of producers has steadily grown to over 45 producers from 15 different regions of Italy. We look for typical Italian wines with clarity and freshness, usually made from indigenous Italian grape varieties using clean, transparent winemaking techniques and no obvious use of oak. 

Gin Primo

 

ABOUT FEDERICO LUGARESI

Born and raised in the province of Ravenna in Emilia-Romagna, Federico Lugaresi has always been enmeshed in the local culture and cuisine. His line of gins was born of the confluence of passion and a local treasure - the Cervia sea salt of the Romagnan coast where he grew up. A historic source of wealth for the region, Cervia sea salt is known as the salt of the popes and is still presented to the Pope annually in a festive local ceremony. So important is salt to Italian culture, its very name, ‘sal’ is the root word for the Latin ‘salario’, or ’salary’ in English.

Originally the owner of an osteria, Federico was well aware of the history and importance of the Cervia salt, as well as the vital role seasoning with salt can play in the success of a dish. He also happened to be a gin enthusiast and traveled throughout Italy curating rare and unique bottles for his restaurant. One day he put the two together and wondered why there were no gins made with salt, the ultimate exalter of flavor. After a bit of research, he came up with a recipe to make his first gin, aptly named Gin Primo. This is the first in his Giro Mondo series of gins, all of which will be made with salt from a different continent. 

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GIN PRIMO

The name ‘Primo’ has many origins. Translated as number one, it symbolizes several things for Federico and his wife, Bianca. Their first production was completed on September 1, 2016, and it is the first salt gin from Italy. In addition, families in Emilia-Romagna traditionally name their first son ‘Primo’. The gin is like their first child. 

The salinia (salt bed) in Cervia has been in use for over 4,000 years and the privilege of harvesting is passed down through generations of local families. It is a pinkish gray color and is said to have a ‘sal dolce’ or sweet and salty flavor.

The only other botanicals besides the salt are juniper from Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany, and local lavender, lemon balm and santolina (a slightly bitter Mediterranean shrub in the chamomile family). All local botanicals are hand harvested and dried and infused separately to ensure the right amount of extraction. 

The infusions are then distilled separately, and very gently, with a vacuum still that preserves the delicate aromas and maximum amount of essential oils. The juniper is distilled separately in an alembic and then combined with the others. The salt is first dissolved in water 4-4.5g salt per liter of water and then added to the distillate to bring down the alcohol to 43%.