A new viticultural model for Sicily

With the aim of preserving the productive stability of the Sicilian wine industry in the face of climate change, Colomba Bianca, one of the largest producers of organic wines in Italy, has since last year set up an Observatory, open to institutions and wineries on the island, to monitor climate trends and share know-how, involving professionals on the subject at national level. Among them is Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorological Society and scientific journalist. "We are trying to move towards a model of sustainable agriculture," comments Mattia Filippi of Uvasapiens, Colomba Bianca's consultant oenologist, "by increasing biodiversity and organic matter in the soil: complex agricultural models involving the cultivation of forests and wider ecological contexts. I have christened it 'Vitecology' and it is the union between the horizons of the new viticulture and ecological trends, to counter phenomena arising from climatic misalignments: desertification, drought, chemical and physical instability of the soil'.

Read the full article with statements by Luca Mercalli and Mattia Filippi here

by Mattia

The Uva Sapiens speak about climate change on WineBlogRoll

Called upon to have their say about climate change in viticulture and oenology, the Uva Sapiens contributed to this article published in WineBlogRoll.
From extreme weather events to metastability in the vineyard, from the need to better manage leaf walls to the need to never lower our guard against biotic stresses, not even in drought years, here is what Umberto Marchiori, Mattia Filippi and Roberto Merlo answered to Francesco Saverio Russo's questions.

Read the article here

by Mattia

Suckering of Cabernet Sauvignon

Suckering of Cabernet Sauvignon at RDV Vineyards (Virginia, USA) with Roberto Merlo.

by Mattia

Who are the Wine Consultants? The Uva Sapiens on ADNKronos

What is meant by Wine Consultant?

It depends. Consultancy can cover various aspects related to the world of wine production, consumption and trade.
Giovanna Romeo tells us about this on ADNKronos, also mentioning the Uva Sapiens and their expertise in vine and wine consultancy.
Full article here

by Mattia

Award loot at Vinitaly 2022 for Uva Sapiens partner wineries

5StarWines

is the wine competition organized by VeronaFiere in collaboration with Assoenologi. A three-day blind tasting with an international jury of wine professionals, and an official guide, 5StarWines - the Book, which brings together the participating wines that have achieved a score of 90 hundredths or more. During the 2022 edition, the sixth, 960 of more than 2300 participating samples were selected for inclusion in the Guide. Among them were five wines from companies followed by Uva Sapiens.

Wine Without Walls

is the competition of 5StarWines dedicated to wine certified organic, biodynamic or produced by companies adhering to sustainability protocols / certifications. The aim of Wine Without Walls is to spread awareness of sustainable viticulture by including in the 5StarWines guide the selection of wines that stand out the most in preserving the naturalness of the soil, vines and their products. Wine Without Walls is also an opportunity to recognize and raise the international profile of producers' commitment to biodynamic, organic and sustainable agriculture, as they are active in defining new sustainable horizons both in the vineyard and in the cellar. In this section, 11 wines produced by companies followed by Uva Sapiens received scores from 90 upwards.

Here is a summary of the awards:

5StarWine e Wines Without Walls a Vinitaly 2022 — Vini premiati a Vinitaly 2022

by Mattia

Degustazione rosati Assoenologi Trentino.

Mattia Filippi for Assoenologi Trentino

The technical training meeting organized by Assoenologi Trentino was held today at Cantine Vivallis in Nogaredo. Mattia Filippi led a tasting entitled “Rosati. The variety as interpreter of territorial identity”.
‘It was a pleasure,’ said Mattia, ‘to share with the Trentino winemakers the tasting of some rosé wines produced throughout Italy:

– CHIETO, BARDOLINO CHIARETTO CLASSICO DOC. TENUTA LA CÀ

– BAIASYRA, ROSATO IGT TERRE SICILIANE. BAGLIO DI PIANTETTO

– ROSA DEL ROSA, PIEMONTE DOC ROSATO. PROPRIETÀ SPERINO

– GEMMA, LAGREIN ROSATO. TENUTA SAN LEONARDO

– JEIO ROSÉ BRUT, PROSECCO DOC ROSÉ. BISOL

– VIOLETTE ROSÉ, VINO SPUMANTE ROSÉ EXTRA DRY. COLLALTO.

The different winemaking techniques at the service of the different varieties contribute to the uniqueness of the wines obtained and to the valorization of the potential inherent in the territory of origin of the grapes’.

by Mattia

Umberto Marchiori at the University of Udine

Education is one of the passions and missions of the Uva Sapiens team. Today, Umberto Marchiori gave a lecture on special oenological techniques as part of the degree course in Viticulture and Oenology at the University of Udine.

by Mattia

Mattia Filippi taking part in Sicilia en Primeur

Back after two years is Sicilia en Primeur, the travelling event promoted by Assovini Sicilia and dedicated to Sicilian wine, which brings together national, European and international journalists as well as the regional press in Sicily.
After the enotours, from 27 to 29 April, there will be an appointment in Erice on 30 April with a conference featuring technical and scientific contributions to the theme of Sicilia en Primeur 2022, “Back to the roots. Sicily living the future’.
Speakers will include Mattia Filippi, with a speech entitled “The good practices of Sicilian companies following climate change“.
Antonio Zoccoli, (President of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics – “There is no wine without neutrino”), Marco Moriondo (Institute of Bioeconomics of the CNR of Florence “Climate change: observed and expected impacts in viticulture”) are also scheduled to speak.
The conference will be moderated by journalist Massimo Giletti.

by Mattia

Inzolia... aka Ansonica introduces itself

Inzolia or Ansonica is a grape variety widely cultivated in the provinces of western Sicily, and is also widely grown in the rest of the island, where it represents the ampelographic basis of several DOC and IGT wines. Mattia Filippi is among the authors of this article on Inzolia published in the June 2021 issue of the magazine L’Enologo.

Read the article here: L'Inzolia si presenta

by Mattia

Catarratti introduce themselves

Catarratti are the most widely cultivated grape varieties in Sicily, particularly in the provinces of Trapani, Palermo and Agrigento. Catarratto Bianco Comune and Catarratto Bianco Lucido together account for about 30% of the regional area under vine. Mattia Filippi contributed, together with Attilio Scienza and Roberto Miravalle, to this review on Catarratti published by L'Enologo in the December 2020 issue.

Read the article here: I Catarratti si presentano

by Mattia

Grillo and Catarratto old vines: a viticultural heritage to be revalued

Catarratto and Grillo are two important varieties for Sicilian viticulture and old vineyards can still be found in the area. The experiments conducted have highlighted the qualitative potential of these vineyards, which need the best viticultural indications in order to produce high quality grapes. Mattia Filippi and Roberto Merlo are among the authors of this article published in the October 2016 issue of the magazine L’Enologo.

Read the article here: Le vigne vecchie di Grillo e Catarratto un patrimonio viticolo da rivalutare

by Mattia