2024 Cantina di Gambellara, Monopolio Durello Spumante - Liberty

Cantina di Gambellara is a cooperative winery founded in 1947. Today it has nearly 300 members who farm 600 hectares on the border between the provinces of Vicenza and Verona, only a few miles east of Soave. In 2015, this Cantina merged with the Cantina Colli Vicentini (from whom we buy the Ca’ di Alte wines). Matt Thomson of Blank Canvas has been consulting on the winemaking since vintage 2017, working closely with the Cantina di Gambellara Oenologists Stefano Lovato and Damiano Noro.

Lovato and Noro select the best grapes from the volcanic hills that comprise Gambellara natural amphitheatre, to make his Gambellara Classico. Garganega grapes are briefly macerated before fermenting at low temperatures. The resulting wine is dry and scented, displaying a pronounced minerality and a long finish. The Merlot is riper and better structured than many wines made from this variety in the Veneto. The Pinot Grigio has delicate aromas of citrus fruit and floral notes. The Pinot Nero has an intense and elegant nose with notes of violets, red berries and cherries.

The Durello Spumante is a Charmat method sparkling made from Durella grapes grown in the mountainous Lessini area. This variety has been grown in this area since the Middle Ages. Thick-skinned with good acidity, it has a distinct character that sets it apart from other sparkling wines from north-eastern Italy. The Prosecco Spumante was made using the Charmat method and shows delicate fruity notes of white pear and peach with a well-balanced acidity.

The Durella grape is an ancient variety grown in the Lessinia area. The vineyards for this wine are mainly located on high hills facing south, maximising their exposure to sunlight. The soils here are of volcanic origin.

The 2024 vintage saw mild temperatures and moderate rains throughout spring. June and July were warm, with excellent diurnal range. August was sunny, which perfectly ripened the grapes for harvest, which took place in early September.

The first fermentation took place in autoclaves at controlled temperatures. The second fermentation took place at lower temperatures in autoclaves with selected yeasts, according to the Charmat Method.

This wine is pale yellow in colour with delicate aromas of papaya and plums. On the nose, there are fresh notes of saline minerality and apple. The finish is fine and long.