SASSARA
VINI
BARDOLINO - VENETO
“Alessia and Stefano are less concerned with what conventional winemakers are doing in the area and instead have set out to show what the indigenous grapes and Bardolino terroir are capable of when allowed to express themselves naturally.”
A 14 hectare estate on the slopes of Monte Mamaor at the southern end of the Bardolino DOC near Custoza, Sassara Vini is an exciting, soulful alternative to the usual commercial wine of the region. Of the 14 hectares, 10 are committed to organic and biodynamically farmed vineyards with the rest olive groves and woodlands. Alessia Bertaiola, an agricultural researcher, and her husband Stefano, 3rd generation winemaker, are the team behind the project. Stefano’s family have worked these complex soils – a mix of ancient ocean bed and morainic sediment – for over fifty years, the current duo taking full control in 2007. Their vineyards contain many old-vines of multiple local varieties with interesting genetics. Red grapes include Corvina, Rossanella, Rondinella and Molinara, while for whites there are Fernanda, Moscato, Trebbianello, Trebbiano, Garganega and Tocai. Sassara’s wines are produced skillfully via spontaneous ferments without temperature control, delivering brilliant fruit that is bursting with generous juice, minerality and lust for life. Through this authentic producer and their traditional, regional wines, you quickly realise that the past is, in fact, the future.
THE WINES
Sassara 'Misia' Veneto Bianco Bio
A traditional blend of Trebbiano, Garganega and Tocai. Spontaneous fermentation with 3 days skin maceration and without temperature control. Aged in stainless steel. No filtering or fining and minimal added sulfur as necessary.
Sassara 'Coconar' Orange Bio
100% Trebbiano with 60 days of maceration. Spontaneous fermentation without temperature control. Aged in stainless steel. No filtering or fining and minimal added sulfur as necessary.
Sassara 'Esotico' Veneto Rosso Bio
30% red grapes (Corvina, Rossanella, Rondinella, Molinara) and 70% white grapes (Fernanda, Moscato, Trebbianello, Trebbiano, Garganega, Tocai), all from old vines. Hand harvested and spontaneously co-fermented with 10 days of skin maceration and without temperature control. Aged in stainless steel. No filtering or fining and minimal added sulfur as necessary.
Sassara 'Goto' Bardolino Rosso DOC Bio
Traditional blend of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara. Spontaneous fermentation with 6 days skin maceration without temperature control. Aged in stainless steel. No filtering or fining and minimal added sulfur as necessary.
FURTHER READING
https://www.naturalbornwine.com/vini-sassara
