BUBBLES: THE NEW TREND IS SPARKLING WINES MADE FROM ANTIQUE GRAPE CULTIVATIONS AND IT’S FULL OF SURPRISES. THE WEALTH OF “ITALIAN VINEYARDS” IS A STRONG POINT

Maybe it’s just summer time or a trend, but it has become a reality - Italian bubbly is a must both at home and out. Italy has a wealth of sparkling wines that no other country has. The top four territories are Trentodoc, Franciacorta, Prosecco and Asti that produce fine wines made predominantly from Classic Champagne grapes (except for Asti, which is made from Muscat grapes and Prosecco from its namesake grape) Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with some additions, especially in the wines of Franciacorta, Pinot Blanc, mostly Pinot Noir, also in the Oltrepo Pavese sparkling wines.

Besides an undeniable increase in product quality, curiosity invites us to try alternative wines and discover local specialties and their territories where we would least expect them.
This trend increases the success of sparkling wines and is a real surprise. So, here is a quick trip through the sparkling wines of Italy, either Charmat or Classic method that are the most “unpredictable”, i.e., those obtained mostly or entirely from antique vines, which is a whole new world, waiting to be discovered.

Starting from the northwest you can appreciate the lightness and drinkability of a Classic method from Brut Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle from Prie Blanc grapes alone, produced by the Cave du Vin Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle or the acid tenseness of Brut Erbaluce Caluso from this grape alone, produced for example by the Ciek or Orsolani wineries. In Piedmont you can also choose a sweet sparkling wine made from Brachetto d’Aqui grapes, like the one produced by the Cascina Fonda winery. Also from the hills of Piedmont, why not try the sparkling version of Gavi, Cortese grapes, produced by The Scolca winery. If in Lombardy Franciacorta and Oltrepo Pavese triumph, there is also a sparkling wine made from croatina grapes produced by the Bruno Verdi winery. Prosecco is not the only sparkling wine in the Veneto. The Gambellara winery produces a sweet sparkling wine from purely Garganega grapes and Iris Vineyards produces a Brut Rosé from Raboso grapes, while the Colli Vicentini cooperative produces a Lessini Durello sparkling wine from Durello grapes. The Zenato winery, one of the most important in the Veneto region, produces a Lugana Brut from Trebbiano di Lugana grapes and the Deliberi winery produces a Bardolino claret from Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes. In Friuli, Buttrio and Collavini’s Sottomonte Estate produces sparkling wines based on Ribolla Yellow grapes and the Fantinel winery produces a sweet sparkling wine from exclusively Verduzzo grapes. In Emilia Romagna, the Paradiso Farm offers a sweet sparkling wine from Albana Gentile grapes; Francesco Bellei winery a sparkling version of Lambrusco di Sorbara and the Carra Castico winery produces a Malvasia di Candia.
Even in Tuscany you can find sparkling wines in unexpected places. The Falchini Casale in San Gimignano produces a sparkling wine from Vernaccia grapes. In Montalcino the Poggiolo winery produces one from Sangiovese grapes (with small additions of Pinot Noir). Poggiolo is a new company in the territory that has already showed it can compete at high levels. Their sparkling wine has appealing aroma and a convincing taste and its strong point is its drinkability: the grapes are the same as the noble Brunello di Montalcino wine.

In the land of Verdicchio, the Marche region, there are sparkling wines produced from antique grapevines. The Colonnara winery believes wholeheartedly in this production of both the Classical and Charmat method and also produces a Rosé. Even the Passerina grape, another locally grown ancient variety, has been produced as a sparkling wine by the Guido Cocci Grifoni winery. In Umbria, the Terre de la Custodia winery owned by the Farchioni family and one of the most important wineries in the region, produces an excellent Rosé from Sangiovese grapes. The Sagrantino red grape variety, symbol of the region, produces its Novelli de Noir Rosé. The Dino Illuminati winery in the Abruzzo region produces a Brut made from an original blend of Trebbiano, Passerina and Verdicchio grapes.

The Campania region offers a rich and varied selection of sparkling wines. From the Classic, just recently rediscovered, Asprinio d’Aversa, made from Asprinio grapes and produced by historic wineries such as I Bordoni and Grotta del Sole, headed by the Martusciello family. This family also produces a sweet wine from Coda di Volpe grapes and one of the leading cooperatives in central and southern Italy, the Taburno winery produces a sparkling wine from Falanghina grapes. There is the Feudi di San Gregorio winery, which made wines from Irpinia famous worldwide: Dubl White from Falanghina grapes, Dubl white from Greek grapes and Dubl Rosé, from Aglianico grapes. The wineries I Favati, Colli Irpini and De Conciliis produce a brut from Fiano d’Avellino grapes and the De Conciliis winery also produces a sparkling wine made from Aglianico grapes. In the Basilicata region, the Paternoster winery produces a sweet bubbly from Aglianico grapes and the Dragon winery produces a demi-sec from Malvasia Lucana grapes.

In Apulia, the production of sparkling wines made from antique cultivations of grapes is quite interesting, starting from the historic Apulian wine Leone De Castris, which produces three very intriguing sparkling wines: Don Piero (from Malvasia Bianca), the Rose Lady Lisette (from Negroamaro grapes and a small amount of Malvasia Nera) and Five Roses vintage (from Negroamaro alone). Some wineries however, like Araprì or the Crifo cooperative are betting on Bombino Bianco. The Polvanera winery has produced a sparkling wine from Primitivo grapes, while the Rosa del Golfo winery has produced a Rosé from Negroamaro grapes. in Sicily, the Antichi Vinai winery and especially the historic Scammacca del Murgo winery (that has always bet on this vine), have produced sparkling wine from Nerello Mascalese grapes. In Sardinia the Cantina di Gallura winery has produced sparkling wine from Vermentino and the Sella & Mosca winery, symbol of Sardinian wine today now with the giant Campari, has produced a sparkling wine from the rare variety of Torbato grapes.