Driving back home after a couple of hours spent with Silvia, I realized that the spirit of this family-owned winery can be well reflected by the Bologna F.C. flag fluttering above the vineyards and by the old concrete tanks that fill the cellar.
The owners, the brothers Silvia and Cesare Corazza, embody the truest spirit of the territory and of the legacy they have been given by their ancestors.
In fact, it was 1877 when the first bottles of wine came out of the home cellar, though the first evidence of the vineyards dates back to 1750.
Since then, the Lodi Corazza family has been cultivating that same land, with perseverance, passion and respect. They feel part of the territory, thus have adopted integrated agricolture practice to keep biodiversity intact for a long time.
The vineyards are at the foothills of the Colli Boognesi area, at low altitude, 65-85 mt, on clayey-silty soils.
Silvia and Cesare, over the years, have renewed the structure of the winery and the vineyards, continuing the development of the company and selecting the native and international clones already present on their land.
Trends and fashion styles are not part of their DNA. Their philosophy is to produce only the wines that best suit the grapes that have been here for ages. So, you will find one of the best Pignoletto Superiore DOCG around and a Barbera that can challenge its homologues from Piedmont.
All the production steps are carried out at the winery, including the natural fermentation in steel tanks by Charmat method, bottling and labelling.
Silvia told me that the wine she always keeps in her heart, among their production, is Zigànt Pignoletto Classico Superiore DOCG, absolutely paradigmatic of the potentiality of this grape.
During my visit at the winery, I had the chance to taste three wines:
Pignoletto Frizzante Vènti: from Grechetto gentile grapes, it is the most typical wine of Bologna. In a surprising version, I have to say. From 2017 vintage, after the second fermentation this wine spent 22 months in steel tanks over fine lees, with continuous batonnage. This elevation gave it complexity and finesse, with a delicate bubble and subtle floral aromas. An elegant wine to enjoy as aperitif or with traditional local food.
Castel Zola Rosso 2018: from the best selection of Barbera grapes, elevated in concrete tanks. Elegant, velvety and refreshing, immediately calls for another sip. A wine that holds the history and the spirit of Bologna’s viticulture, a masterpiece amongst the Barbera of the Colli Bolognesi Wine Area.
Castel Zola Bianco IV edizione: flavors from the past, for a gently sweet wine with a blend that changes along the years as seasons do. This 4th edition, from late harvested botrytized Pignoletto and Albana grapes, is a classy seducer, elegant and softly sweet, yet balanced by a lively freshness. A blend that doesn't carry the year of vintage because the Albana wine comes from perpetual (not oxidative) method aging and is therefore a blend of many vintages. It would have been heaven with a piece of some good cheese, like Robiola di Roccaverana.
Silvia and Cesare are always happy to welcome visitors and show them their wine farm. Guided tours are offered on regular basis. They are prepared to welcome guided tours, either for large groups, families or even few people, to offer them a high-quality service with wine tasting.
Guided tours are available in Italian, English and French. Corporate dinners, parties, tasting dinners and other events can be arranged upon request.
One of the places you can't miss when you decide to discover the gems of the Colli Bolognesi Wine area.
You can discover more visiting the winery's website, English version available: http://www.lodicorazza.com/
Via Risorgimento, 223
40069 Ponte Ronca di Zola Predosa
BOLOGNA-Italy
Tel/Fax +39.051.756805
Comments