Mate Brachetto 2023

The history of the estate begins with Rino Sottimano who, at the end of the 1960s, decided to settle in the heart of Barbaresco in the "Cotta" cru. The estate then gradually expanded to reach 18 hectares. Which today makes it one of the largest Barbaresco vineyards. This family winery then saw the arrival of Rino's children: Andrea, Elena and Claudia. In the cellar, the philosophy is simple: native yeasts, long macerations, and malolactic fermentation on lees which lasts for a year. A rule that respects the precepts of previous generations. Already very qualitative, production has reached new heights over the past 5 years.

Andréa produces Barbaresco which tastes wonderfully after a few years in bottle, then there are his 1.2 hectares of Brachetto planted on the "Maté" vineyard in the commune of Neive in the heart of Piedmont. The harvest is manual and fermentation takes place using native yeasts in stainless steel vats. No passage in barrels here, aging for 6 months in vats with bottling without fining or filtration: the idea is to have a pure juice. This grape variety offers a lively wine that is drunk young. It reveals notes of crushed strawberry , rose , hibiscus , rhubarb , redcurrant , and cranberry . The palate is delicious, fine with almost absent tannins and a supple and floral finish.

Ah Italy, what a beautiful hedonistic country, people of the Dolce Vita, but what difficulty in understanding its wine organization! The key to understanding the naming system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous country because each region has its own naming system. Italy can, however, give wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, as well as bottles filled with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless and characterless wines which are sold under their most useful and commercially reputable name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco and many others... But let's talk a little history, viticulture in Italy dates back to ancient times and it originated in Greece. The Etruscans would have planted vines and Greek immigrants would have improved and modified the grape varieties who subsequently called this country "Oenotria": the country of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life and certain regions already stood out for the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible testimony to their invasion. Today Italy is the largest wine producer in the world, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic areas. The northern mountains experience a fairly harsh mountain climate. The “middle of the boot” plain is the domain of the continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the "southern part of the Italian boot" the Mediterranean climate reigns with very hot and very dry summers without forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In summary, Italy produces wines of great variety thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originate from their lands. It is a country just as complex as its wines which deserve to be explored!