Under the Resistenti-Nicola Biasi brand, a network of enterprises from various regions, spanning Friuli, Veneto, and Trentino, has come together. Launched at the end of 2021, the project’s primary aim is to showcase the potential of resistant grape varieties and produce excellent territorial wines through sustainable practices. "Resistant grape varieties must be part of the future. I’m not saying that Barolo or Brunello di Montalcino will cease to exist, but using new varieties is a concrete, sustainable solution," says Nicola Biasi, an oenologist who views Piwi as both an opportunity and a necessary path to ensuring the future of viticulture.
The mountain rows of Vigneti Vinessa, in Veneto, part of the Resistenti-Nicola Biasi project.
Sustainable viticulture: the data
The data reveals the benefits of cultivating Piwi varieties (from the German term pilzwiderstandfähig, meaning “fungus-resistant vines”) and the ecological difference they can make. The concept of “resistance” is the cornerstone of the economic and environmental advantages.
"What does this mean in practical terms? For example, instead of 20 treatments, you’ll need only 4," explains Biasi. "This characteristic leads to a significant reduction in carbon footprint and the use of chemical substances." This is what links these varieties to the concept of sustainability.
The 'Resistenti' network. Nicola Biasi is the first on the left.
Nicola Biasi: "A vision for the future"
This is a vision that looks towards the future. "A future that, with ongoing climate change, forces us either to move vineyards to higher altitudes or to change grape varieties. Resistant vines are highly functional and environmentally respectful," Biasi notes. However, sustainability, he emphasises, "must be the cherry on top: cultivating a resistant variety must result in the creation of an excellent territorial wine that is also sustainable. Quality and territory must be essential components in wine production."
Vin de la Neu: a manifesto for sustainability
The Vin de la Neu 2022 is Nicola Biasi’s first step into the world of resistant grape varieties and originates in the Trentino Dolomites. Its name refers to a vineyard cultivated at 1,000 metres altitude with the Piwi grape variety Johanniter.
This wine boasts a multifaceted aromatic profile of rosemary, wisteria, eucalyptus, and alpine herbs. Together with an intense and vibrant palate, sharp acidity, and a savoury, aromatic finish, it highlights the potential of these grape varieties.
Resistenti Nicola Biasi
Predaia (TN)
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