28 Sep Ferrari Trento – The Italian Art of Living
This story originally appeared in the Napa Valley Register.
The 69th Primetime Emmy Awards took place this past week. The celebrities were out in full force, dressed in their very best, for a night of glamour and recognition. Naturally, with all the celebrating, there were a lot of toasts being made. And with each toast, the glasses were filled with Ferrari Trento sparkling wine, adding a touch of Italian style to the night.
Italy’s most awarded bubbles, Ferrari Trento was the Official Sparkling Wine of Emmy® Awards season for the third consecutive year. Named the “European Winery of the year” by Wine Enthusiast in 2015 and the “Sparkling Wine Producer of the Year” at The Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships, Ferrari Trento understands what it is to be the best. Featured in world-class restaurants around the world, Ferrari Trento is also partnered with luxury brands Zegna and Maserati. After all, Ferrari Trento is a brand the celebrates the “Italian art of living.”
But Ferrari Trento is a family-owned business. Ferrari Trento was founded by Giulio Ferrari in 1902 who had studied in France, where he learned about Champagne and the metodo classico (Champagne-method). Returning to Trentino, Giulio Ferrari was the first person to understand the potential of the Trentino mountains and was the first to bring chardonnay and pinot noir to the area. Giulio Ferrari ran the winery for 50 years and every bottle he produced was a work of art.
Unfortunately, Giulio Ferrari did not have any heirs so he decided to sell the winery and selected Bruno Lunelli, a wine merchant in Trento, as successor. The Lunelli family took over in 1952 and today, President and CEO Matteo Lunelli is the third generation to run the winery.
Ferrari Trento owns 120 hectares which are all 100 percent certified organic. In addition, they have eight agronomists on their team who work with many of the small local producers, who each own approximately one hectare of vineyards, to purchase fruit.
Ferrari Trento is located in Trentino in the north of Italy next to Alto Adige. Labeled under Trentodoc, the Trento DOC was the first DOC created in Italy for metodo classico and second in the world after Champagne. Today, there are a total of 40 producers making high-quality sparkling wines made exclusively in the metodo classico style. Trentodoc also represents the largest vineyard zone planted with Chardonnay in Italy, thanks to the insight of Giulio Ferrari.
According to Matteo Lunelli, the mountains of Trentino are the perfect land for growing grapes. Located in the middle of the Alps, the vineyards are located 300–700 meters high and are 100 percent certified organic. A Mediterranean climate, the mountains are “kissed by the sun” during the day and the cold air blows down the mountain at night. This results in grapes that can achieve maturity while maintaining acidity.
Ferrari Trento works exclusively with chardonnay and pinot noir, and produces more than one dozen different sparkling wines, of which I had the pleasure to taste half of them.
Ferrari Brut NV
— 100 percent chardonnay and two years on the lees: The resulting wine is a bright straw color with fresh bouquet of ripe green apple, white flowers and citrus, with a tough of yeast.
Ferrari Rose NV
— chardonnay and pinot noir, two years on the lees: With notes of wild strawberries and red currants, it is fresh and fruity on the palate.
Ferrari Perlé 2009, Trentodoc
— 100 percent chardonnay, five years on the lees: The wine is fresh with a lovely harmony between fruit (golden apple, white peach) and yeasts (brioche and almond).
Ferrari Perlé Nero 2006, Trentodoc
— 100 percent pinot noir, vinified white, seven years on the lees, disgorged 2013: The only Blanc de Noir produced by Ferrari Trento, this wine is complex and rich on the nose with layers of red berry, minerals, citrus and roasted nuts.
Ferrari Perlé Rosé 2006, Trentodoc
— 80 percent pinot noir, 20 percent chardonnay, five years on the lees: With notes of red berries (strawberry, tart cherry, red currant) as well as grapefruit and roses, this wine is elegant and smooth on the palate.
Ferrari Riserva Lunelli 2006, Trentodoc
—100 percent chardonnay: This is the only wine Ferrari Trento makes in which the first fermentation takes place in wood (40 hectoliter Austrian oak barrels). The wine has notes of flowers and tropical fruits and a hint of honey and the time in oak adds a nice richness to the body.
Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 2005, Trentodoc
— 100 percent chardonnay, 10 years on the lees: A brilliant golden yellow, this wine has notes of dried fruit, roasted hazelnuts and honey and it elegant with a long finish.
Trentodoc Giulio Ferrari Collezione 1995
— 100 percent chardonnay, 18 years on the lees: A single vineyard with limestone gravel, this wine is only made in the best years. Straw yellow with golden highlights, the wine is full and rich with floral and tropical notes, as well as spice, nuts and minerals. At 22 years old, the wine is still fresh and elegant, although it has gained complexity. This is a wine that has the ability to stand the test of time.
Ferrari Trento has remained loyal to Guilio Ferrari’s vision and is the leader in high-end sparkling wine. But Ferrari Trento is not just for celebrating. It is also perfect for pairing with food, such as prosciutto, caviar, carbonara pasta, risotto, cannelloni and fish. Cheers to the “Italian art of living.”
Read the original story in the Napa Valley Register.