Natural wines from the world

In March, almost everyone starts bottling the new vintages and almost automatically they put some bottles aside because they are “those-for-Vinitaly”. Among the automatisms of wine, this great fair has acquired a fixed place. The growing interest for wines produced using an organic or biodynamic agriculture, over the past few years, is making these mechanisms creak; to the point that even at Vinitaly, a pavilion is now dedicated to producers who have certified themselves as being producers of "artisanal wines who express the flavour of the earth from which they are born", namely Vivit.

If, in totally good faith, we continue to think that wine should always express, at least tentatively, a typicality, the sense of respect that was hovering during the Identità Milano 2013 congress has led us to be interested in another event which, this year, celebrates its tenth anniversary. Villa Favorita is the wine event organised by VinNatur, the association of Viticoltori Naturali (natural vine-dressers) who from April 6th to the 8th will host 138 producers who work in total respect for the characteristics of the soil. That is to say, avoiding any sort of chemical use in the fields and in the cellar.

“Just like humans, if we nourish ourselves properly, we are less subject to diseases, so a vine that grows in a strong and well nurtured soil becomes more resistant and thus almost autoimmune”. The faith of Angiolino Maule, producer in Gambellara and president of VinNatur for earth is comparable to few others, and he works on many aspects so that a new wine culture can spread, light years distant from standardised wines, and promoting, instead, all the different facets a territory can possible have.

“Agriculture is a private action on public soil, this is why we need to get back to work on a soil disfigured by chemicals”. The inspiring rooms of Villa Favorita and its fascinating garden thus appear to be the location for a debate among the producers who have taken the same road and who are not allowed to show off. Their dinners at the end of the day, when a common feeling is delved into, when people quarrel and friendships are born, are famous. A special mention is also deserved by the three great tastings organised during this edition. The programme starts on Saturday with L’anima del Vulcano (the soul of the volcano), with eight wines to represent the “magmatic” soul of Italy, then continues on Sunday with Vin Santo and closes on Monday with Dieci vini di dieci anni fa (ten wines from ten years ago), that is to say wines aged ten or more years.

While chalices will be filled with nature, health will continue to be present in the dishes. Villa Favorita will in fact line up three great chefs two of whom are starred, coordinated by Stefano De Lorenzi of Zenzero in Grumolo della Abbadesse. They have designed a menu and a few surprises following the “tasty and healthy” theme. The range goes from gourmet sandwiches to dishes that will differ each day, and the picnic basket for those who prefer to sit in the villa’s garden and enjoy the marvellous natural location.

Villa Favorita
Monticello di Fara
Sarego (Vicenza)
6th-8th April.
Opening hours: Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th April, from 10 am to 6 pm; Monday 8th April from 11 am to 6 pm.
Entrance ticket: 20 euros

See also:
Vini Veri number ten