The Vin de la Neu comes from a project by winemaker Nicola Biasi that has all the flavour of a real challenge. The winemaker, in 2013, found himself having to face a heavy snowfall during the harvest in the high mountains, where he had planted his vineyard. In a short time twenty centimeters of snow fell that covered the grapes still on the vines.
And from here his intuition, which produced 300 bottles of “snow wine” that year, in an area where – as is the tradition of the Val di Non – apples are grown. The vine used is the Johanniter, a cross between Riesling and Pinot Grigio that has a special feature: it is resistant to the main vine diseases and the climatic adversities of altitude. The bottles produced became 440, then 500. Today, the target is to produce 2000 bottles.
A perfect winter drink
The project is realized at 900 meters above sea level, in the small village of Coredo, in Trentino Alto Adige. In a vineyard designed with the precise aim of obtaining high quality grapes, with an eye to the use of untreated materials, even in the choice of support poles in larch, a tree widely used in the area. And without the use of pesticides and motor vehicles!
Nicola Biasi, at only 34 years old, is a winemaker with great experience, having started as manager of the Allegretti house, producers of Brunello di Montalcino. His curriculum also includes experiences at Jermann and Zuani, then a stay in Australia, and then again in Italy at Castello di Fonterutoli and an experience in South Africa at Bouchard Finlayson Winery. He has managed:·
- Poggio San Paolo, the Montalcino estate of Marilisa Allegrini
- Poggio al Tesoro in Bolgheri
Currently he is also director of the Wine Research Team, a reality made up of a group of companies willing to do research to address the main problems related to made in Italy viticulture.
An experience that is behind a daring attempt, aimed at obtaining a virtually unique product, on never before treated land, even chemically, for the culture of the vine. It is a gamble that Blasi took really seriously, having decided to stop all professional collaborations in progress before the company grade.
Peculiarities of Snow Wine
The Vin de la Neu is distinguished by an intense and consistent color, for a wide aromatic complexity structured around a bright fruity taste that is then confirmed by the palate.
Thanks to its characteristics, the product – for two consecutive years – has won the “Sole” area awarded by the Veronelli Guide: “extreme and elegant wine”. With this project, Blasi has shown that knowledge can enable the production of Made in Italy wines even at high altitudes and, at the same time, to achieve real excellence in a “sustainable” way, without disturbing the balance of the ecosystems in which the vineyards are inserted. . The gamble is won, but does not stop there!
I bet you’re curious now, why don’t you try this snow wine too? You will surely be surprised!
