The celebrities are obsessed with vino artigianale. They sing its praises, frolic in vineyards during the harvest, and sip the latest vintage to be released. What is it that these stars find so alluring about artisanal wine, and what’s the secret behind its increasing popularity?
The article will go through how artisanal wines are created, what makes them different from your everyday bottle of plonk, and why celebs like them better than any other kind of booze.
The wine has been so successful in becoming a new avant-garde form, it’s time to give you the lowdown on what makes them so special.
You’ll learn how artisanal wines are made in a genuine context, the history behind their creation, and what makes them stand out from other bottles on the market. You’ll then be able to appreciate these wines for themselves, rather than just taking their creator’s word for it.
Let’s start!
FLAVORS OF THE MONTH
Riccardo Bernasconi, the winemaker whose wines are destined for the official list of Flavors of the Month at Angelo’s in New York City, has something to say about his exceptional creations: “The true art of winemaking is to produce good wine with no rules. A true artisan needs to be like a sculptor who chisels away at marble until he finds what he wants.” The same philosophy guides Riccardo’s winemaking; it’s all about fine-tuning and tweaking until you get that perfect product.
One of his favorite wines to make is optimal Croce, a rich red wine from Sicily’s bold Cannonau. He drinks it with the bread from the bakery that also supplies his home where the wine is aged. Riccardo savors and appreciates every single drop, and he doesn’t want others to miss out on experiencing this masterpiece.[1]
Riccardo’s philosophy may be lighthearted but it reflects an important attitude: one of throwing off traditions and making something new. Artisanal wine-making doesn’t make any rules as guidelines; you’re free to create as your imagination sees fit.
The appearance of artisanal wine is rather playful; the wine makers want their bottles to be as colorful and individual as possible. The bottles can be tall or short, squat or elegant, and might even come in a special edition such as a shape designed to look like a fish (Gaja Barbaresco), a human silhouette (Collavini Barolo), or even an animal (Agostinaia). The colors run from clear glass so you can see what’s inside, from brown to amber to even the odd green bottle. You’ll also find labels with pretty designs and creative names such as “Demone” (“Demon”) from the Sicilian estate of Feudi di San Gregorio.
Now, back on the topic of flavor, let’s learn more about what makes artisanal wine so attractive.
PIGS IN THE WINE
Someone who knows what they are talking about is Mario DiRico, the winemaker at Galardi Moscato of Sicily. Mario believes that one of the secrets to success with artisanal wines is having a mature vineyard that has had time to communicate with the wine-maker. You have to connect with both of them, he says. The vines have to get to know you if you want your wine to be tasty. A perfect symbiosis between fruit and grapes is guaranteed when all ingredients are in alignment.
On the other hand, there’s also the process itself. Here again, Mario’s approach is simple: create a product that can reflect and reflect and reflect back to you. Nature is a mirror that reflects back all the feelings and experiences that we have inside us. That’s why artisanal wines can be so inspiring, as they become such a direct expression of the personality of their creator. And as such, you can see it in their aroma and taste.
