Armony and balance with nature, that's what I brought home after meeting Danila and visiting her estate.
A very young, family-owned winery, near Marzabotto, on the Appennini mountains, with just 3.5 hectares of biodynamic vineyards on limestone soils. The first vintage was just 2012, but Al di là del Fiume has already been certified by Demeter for 2 years now.
The focus of the winery is to achieve ripe, healthy and vital grapes. In the cellar the winemaker simply has to try not to spoil this miracle: no yeast or sulphur dioxide is used in winemaking, nor any kind of preservative or additive during processing.
Here only five local grapes are grown: Albana, Pignoletto, Montuni, Alionza, Barbera.
Danila tells me that Albana and Barbera have always been the most traditional grapes in that part of the Bolognese hills that already become Appennini: Albana was used for the everyday white wine, while Barbera grapes were used to produce the red wine to drink along with sundays' richer lunch after the mass.
The winery produces 6 wines: 2 with steel elevation (Zirudèla, Saramàt), 2 with long maceration in amphoras (Fricandò, Dagamò), 2 sparkling rifermentato (Birichèn white and rosé).
I had the chance to taste 3 white wines, which really impressed me much:
Birichèn 2021: a fresh sparkling wine that will turn your summer on, from pignoletto grapes, bottle fermented. Unfiltered though bright, with deep yellow gold color and fresh aromas of honey and grapefruit, salty and mineral.
Zirudèla 2021: only steel tanks for this lively white wine from albana (80%), montuni, alionza and pignoletto grapes. The freshest expression of the fruit is what the winemaker is looking for with this wine. Lively and salty, with sweet floral and grapefruit aromas, fruit and terroir. Nailed.
Fricandò 2021: a wine that aims to represent the other side of the white grapes potential. Day and night, Zirudèla and Fricandò. 100% albana grapes, 3 months of skin contact maceration in amphoras, a wine that overwelms you with saffron and honey, exciting and tannic in the mouth, with incredibly long finish of tropical fruit. A wine that brings you out of the box: white, but with red soul and body.
The labels have been donated by three young Bolognese artists and have become labels of authorship. The names of the wines are in Bolognese dialect, because only going back to our roots we can find the strength to fly far away.
The winery says: we cultivate passion, creativity and hospitality. Open to visitors, you can come here for their wines, enjoy the fresh food that is served in the tavern farmhouse and the peaceful landscape.
Discover more here:
Al di là del Fiume
Via S. Martino 10
Località Ca di Cò, Marzabotto (BO)
Ph. +39 348 0153838
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