The Bubbles of the Year Award goes to Cartizze Brut La Rivetta '20 Villa Sandi

Cartizze

The Bubbles of the Year Award increasingly marks the differences and complexities within the Prosecco galaxy. In this case, we are in the heart of the municipality of Valdobbiadene, in a micro-vineyard area that outlines an amphitheater of vines that is scenic to say the least, with dizzying slopes. We are talking about the Cartizze hill, 107 hectares of vineyards for a production of 1.2 million bottles. A suitable territory, divided into over 40 owners, which strongly reminds us of the quality level that a wine capable of becoming a world brand, and by far one of the most famous words of the Italian language in the world.

The award goes to the Villa Sandi winery, owned by the Moretti Polegato family, which in recent years has given a net change of pace to the family business, considerably expanding the viticultural platform, which today extends into the heart of Treviso's bubbles, between the district of Valdobbiadene, Asolo and Montello, but also exploring the high Friuli plain near Spilimbergo with the acquisition of the Friuli winery Borgo Conventi, which enjoys full autonomy and productive identity. But let's go back to talking about the award-winning wine, the fruit of a vineyard, La Rivetta, of one and a half hectares between the hamlets of Santo Stefano and San Pietro di Barbozza.

Here is where this Cartizze is born, produced in about 15,000 bottles a year, which has been awarded the Tre Bicchieri recognition for the twelfth time. But the 2020 version has extra oomph. "It was one of the most regular harvests in recent years, very good day-night temperature variations, with a beautiful September and spectacular and very healthy starting grapes. The aromatic potential was certainly superior in intensity and depth," commented Stefano Gava, oenologist and technical director of the winery, who avails himself of the advice of Riccardo Cotarella. "We start from the second fermentation of the must that we keep until November, and then move on to the tank where it rests for three months. The residual sugar is about 10 grams, in the 2020 vintage we certainly have an even more fragrant primary component," added Stefano. His production motto is 'as fresh as possible.' But there's more beyond the aspect of the fruit in this wine, rather a fine and embroidered modulation of aromas typical of a territory that seems to bring us yet another profile of the glera grape, doing justice to a production pyramid that in recent years is clearly present in the glass.

The wine

Cartizze Brut La Rivetta '20

It unleashes an all-round performance. The wine opens gently on well-rhythmic hints of white peach, jasmine and basil. In the mouth its flavour is striking and a particularly caressing, fine and continuous sparkle, capable of accompanying a solid and safe progression. It continues lean and dry, graceful, closing on a delicate note of almond and hints of citrus. The perfect pairing? Risotto with Mediterranean herbs.

Villa Sandi - Crocetta del Montello (TV)  - via Erizzo 113/A - 0423 8607 https://www.villasandi.it/it/