Italy
Italy
Italy is a large country filled with vines - up to nine hundred different varieties according to some sources. So we won't attempt to try to unravel its mysteries or complexities in a couple of paragraphs here, sign up for one of our courses for that! Suffice to say that the hottest part of Italy is often in the north, and that bits of the country you've never heard of make some of the best wines.
You may think Italians are an argumentative bunch only concerned with finding a way round the rules and I couldn't possibly comment, but it's the other half who have spent months meticulously drafting and redrafting those rules in the first place, and firmly believe they're the most important part of life. In every respect Italy is infuriating and seductive, so watch out, it may become a bigger part of your life than you intended!
- Serio & Battista Borgogno
A family winery is a warm place to work, says Emanuela Bolla; then she admits with a laugh that it can sometimes be a challenge to keep all her relatives on board with every decision. Serio e Battista Borgogno has been on the scene since the nineteenth century, occupying a commanding position on the ridge above the Cannubi vineyard. Emanuela and her cousin Federica are quick to point out that being traditionalist does not mean a one-vintage-fits-all approach; `every year we like to question everything like it`s the first time`.
- Sesti
There are few - if any - more romantic stories in wine than that of Giuseppe Sesti. Having studied fresco painting in Venice, on graduation Giuseppe found that there was little demand for his skills. Instead, he dedicated himself to the study of astronomy, going on to write five books on the subject. By 1975, long before biodynamism had entered the vinous vocabulary, he`d published tables of the small and larger moon cycles for agricultural use in order to reduce the use of chemicals on the land.
- Tenuta San Guido
Located on a part of the Tuscan coast that alternates between marshland and stony areas, Tenuta San Guido was bought by the Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta in the 1930s as, thanks to drainage works and a bit of clearance, the zone was becoming less susceptible to malaria. Large parts of the estate were either suitable only for hunting or reserved for race horse breeding, but during the 1940s work began to plant out some of the drier, stonier areas with vines.
- Terredora
Campania is the region of Italy around Naples, with a dramatic coastline and wild, mountainous interior. It also has a unique range of indigenous grape varieties that date back to classical times. Once upon a time, this was one of the most prestigious wine regions anywhere; local Aglianico and Greco di Tufo grapes were responsible for Falernian, the most prized (and costly) wine style of the Roman Empire. In the twentieth century, the region became synonymous with Mastroberardino, the producer who tirelessly championed local varieties and kick-started southern Italy`s wine revolution.
- TrediberriThree friends – Tre – and a vineyard in Berri. hence they are the `Trediberri` Berri is a small hamlet in the westernmost part of La Morra, located in the Langhe hills of Piemonte, close to the Tanaro river. It lies at the extreme western edge of the Barolo region. Here, in 2007, Nicola, his father Federico and their friend Vladimiro, acquired 5 hectares of vineyards. At Trediberri there are no fixed protocols in the winery, they vinify in cement, wood, or steel depending on what suits the vintage. They change the length of barrel age, again, depending on the vintage.
