The colour is deep gold, with a fine and persistent perlage. On the nose oranges, candied fruits, acacia honey and brioche bread. In the mouth fresh and mineral. The aftertaste is medium long.
This sparkling wine is made by Fongaro, a winery since 1985 dedicated exclusively to the production of traditional Metodo Classico spumante wines, made primarily with organic farmed Durella grapes.
Durella is a light-skinned white grape variety indigenous of the Veneto region of Italy. High levels of acidity make it a versatile variety. It is used to make still, sparkling and dessert wines.
Durella refers to the grape variety, which once vinified becomes known as Durello. The name, which derives from the Italian word for “hard” or “tough”, is thought to refer to the thick skins of the grapes.
Before this vine of ancient origin was “rediscovered” in the late 1960s it was considered mountainous, rustic and wild. The juice from its grapes was vinified through maceration with skins producing “hard wine for hard people.” It was often watered down or used for blending to increase the acidity of other wines.
Nowadays, most varietal Durella wines come from the Monti Lessini DOC, in the Italian provinces of Verona and Vicenza. Those that are labeled Lessini Durello must be at least 85% Durella, with possible additions of Chardonnay, Garganega, Pinot Bianco and Pinot Noir, but in practice, many are 100% Durella, as in this case. Spumante (sparkling) wines are produced using both the methode traditionnelle and the Charmat method.
The Riserva sparkling must re-ferment in the bottle for at least 36 months. In this case, the wine stayed on lees for almost 54 months. The bottles were then rotated daily by hand for about 30 days, at the end of which the degorgement was performed.
For this bottle I paid 21.80 EUR Angarano Vini in Bassano del Grappa. On the winery website it sells for 29.00 EUR.
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Grapes: Durella
Type: Sparkling
Vintage: 2018
Producer: Fongaro
Price range: Medium (15-30 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 4/5