The event that brings together the best Classic Method sparkling wines from Lombardy returns to Villa Mirra in Cavriana (MN).

In Lombardy, from Mantua to Bergamo, from Brescia to Milan, passing through Lecco, Pavia, Sondrio and Varese, there is an entire region of sparkling wines to discover. Giving voice to these productions will be Colline in Bolle – Rassegna dei Migliori Metodo Classico di Lombardia , which after the great success of the first edition will return to animate, on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 October , the spaces of Villa Mirra in Cavriana (MN ).

The choice of Villa Mirra, a highly representative place in the heart of the Garda Colli Mantovani DOC denominations, is not accidental. In fact, the Mantua area boasts a long tradition of Classic Method, a heritage to be protected and enhanced. This is the location chosen by La Strada dei Vini e dei Sapori Mantovani and ONAV Lombardia , who return to collaborate with the common goal of exalting the identity wines of all of Lombardy.

The event will see the participation of over 50 wineries from the provinces of Pavia, Brescia, Bergamo, Mantua, Lecco, Varese and Sondrio, offering a complete overview of Lombardy’s “bubbles”. The denominations Oltrepò Pavese DOCG, Garda DOC, Lugana DOP, Alpi Retiche IGT, Terre Lariane IGT, Terre del Colleoni DOC and Franciacorta DOCG will be the protagonists.

In addition to the area set up with producers’ tasting stands, the public will be able to participate in two exclusive Tasting Experiences . The first, scheduled for Saturday 26 October at 5:00 pm , will see the pairing of Metodo Classico and Grana Padano dei Prati Stabili Selezione da Fieno , curated by Daniela Guiducci and Latteria San Pietro. In this tasting, the aging of Grana Padano of 24 months and over 30 months will be presented. The second experience, scheduled for Sunday 27 October at 4:00 pm , will propose the pairing of Metodo Classico and caviar , again led by Daniela Guiducci in collaboration with Cru Caviar .

A crucial moment of the event will be the Conference “Metodo Classico and Grana Padano – two Lombard excellences” , which will be held on Saturday 26 October at 4:00 pm in the Sala Civica of Cavriana. The conference will celebrate the union between Grana Padano and Metodo Classico of Lombardy, two emblematic products that represent the excellence and food and wine tradition of the area. Among the prominent speakers are Stefano Pezzini, President of Latteria San Pietro – Grana Padano, Giovanna Prandini, President of Ascovilo, the Mayor of Cavriana Matteo Guardini and the President of the Strada dei vini e sapori mantovani Gianni Boselli.

Federico Patera , Director of La Strada dei Vini e dei Sapori Mantovani, expresses his enthusiasm: <>.

Paola Ghisi , delegate of ONAV Mantua, adds: <>.

Hills in Bubbles

Villa Mirra, Cavriana (MN) – Saturday 26 October from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Sunday 27 October from 2:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Costs: €18 full ticket; €12 reduced ticket (ONAV, AIS, FISAR, FIS, ASPI, WSET members)

Cantina Pighin, an exemplary structure of modern architecture applied to the wine sector, designed by the renowned architect Gino Valle.

The Pighin Winery, located a few kilometers from the city of Udine, is an extraordinary example of modern architecture applied to the wine sector, designed in 1966 and built in 1967 by the renowned architect Gino Valle . Valle, who passed away in 2003, left an indelible mark on the architectural panorama of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and the Pighin Winery is one of his most emblematic masterpieces. “ Gino Valle demonstrated extraordinary vision in designing a winery that not only responded to the functional needs of our company, but which also fit in with farsightedness into the agricultural landscape, becoming an architectural point of reference for our region ,” says Roberto Pighin, owner of the company. The Pighin winery, founded in 1963 , is today divided into two independent wineries: one in the Friuli Grave DOC area, with 160 hectares of vineyards, and the other in the Collio Goriziano, with a 30-hectare estate. The Risano headquarters is the beating heart of the company, where the management and the modern cellar designed by Valle are located. The structure is composed of two large parallel buildings intended respectively as a cellar and a warehouse, connected by a covered gallery and annexed to an office block. The choice of materials and technical solutions adopted , such as metal portals and prefabricated panels in pre-stressed reinforced concrete, reflect advanced research into prefabrication and the image of the industrial building. The cellar is located along the provincial road in an agricultural area, a context that Valle has been able to enhance through an architecture that dialogues with the surrounding environment. The continuity of the facade panels, framed at the corners of the load-bearing structure, reinforces the elementarity of the volumes and gives the building a monumental appearance but at the same time integrated into the landscape. The choice to use a 120 cm module for the structure and the infill was dictated by criteria of efficiency and functionality , but also by a coherent and innovative aesthetic vision . The history and evolution of the Pighin company, from its foundation to today, testify to a constant commitment to the pursuit of quality and innovation, values that still find expression today in Valle’s winery. “ Our goal has always been to honor the winemaking tradition of Friuli-Venezia Giulia with an innovative and high-quality approach. Over time, we have made significant investments and made improvements to the structure to keep up with the times. However, Gino Valle ‘s original vision has continually demonstrated its extraordinary foresight. Through his winery, Valle has shown us how architecture can serve and celebrate the art of winemaking, creating an indissoluble bond between functionality and beauty that continues to inspire us every day ,” concludes Roberto Pighin.

Garda Doc wines and Dop products in a fusion of flavours in the name of European quality.

The 2024 harvest in the territories protected by the Garda DOC denomination is proving to be a particularly interesting year, characterized by a limited production but of superior quality. Despite a lower yield than in previous years due to unfavorable weather conditions, the grapes, especially Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio, show high-level quality parameters , reflecting the uniqueness of the Lake Garda area, known for its favorable microclimate and soil diversity. Spring rains supported the vegetation in dry periods, ensuring the necessary hydration during the summer heat waves, which in turn favored ideal ripening. These varieties, capable of expressing the qualities of the terroir, stand out this year for their balanced acidity and optimal pH, promising wines of remarkable elegance and freshness. The vines, in good health conditions, demonstrate the resilience of the Garda area even in difficult years. The Garda DOC Consortium, therefore, anticipates that this year’s wines will convey the excellence of the territory , consolidating the prominent role of this area in the national and international wine scene. The European campaign ” DOP Excellence: an all-European savoir-faire ” fits into this context of quality and tradition, celebrating products with a protected designation of origin, including Garda DOC, in a synergy that enhances the continent’s agricultural and food heritage. The harmony between Garda DOC wines and other products of the countryside, such as Salame di Varzi DOP, Prosciutto Crudo di Cuneo DOP and Montasio DOP cheese, offers an opportunity to explore gastronomic pairings that reflect the richness and diversity of European excellence. In fact, Garda DOC Chardonnay , with its lively minerality and fruity notes, pairs splendidly with Montasio DOP cheese , especially in its fresher versions, where the creaminess of the cheese meets the freshness of the wine in a delicately balanced dialogue of flavors. Similarly, Pinot Grigio Garda DOC , known for its elegance and freshness, enhances the characteristics of Prosciutto Crudo di Cuneo DOP , especially the more mature versions, creating a taste contrast that enhances the intrinsic sweetness of the ham. Not to mention the combination with Salame di Varzi DOP , where the structure of the salami merges with the softness of the wines, offering a sensory experience that celebrates the diversity and quality of DOP products. Through these products, the campaign “DOP Excellence: an all-European savoir-faire” not only emphasizes the importance of the protected designation of origin, but also invites a rediscovery of the authentic flavors and culinary traditions that define the European cultural heritage, underlining how Garda DOC wines can be protagonists in the valorization of a timeless gastronomic legacy.

Presented at the 70th edition of “Autunno Pavese” the first wine of the year, the sparkling wine “2278”, and a vertical of Buttafuoco Storico doc from 2020 to 2013.

The 2024 harvest was a counter-trend for the “Francesco Maggi” winery, located in Canneto Pavese, in the heart of the Oltrepò: “Despite the problems caused by unfavorable weather, explains Marco Maggi, owner of the company, we managed to maintain good health in the vineyards and to harvest intact grapes in good quantities, for all the vines, from Pinot Noir to Riesling, from Croatina to Barbera, Vespolina and Uva Rara. The position of our vineyards, facing South-West at a medium-high altitude, also contributed to this result”. And, if a good day starts in the morning, on the occasion of the 70th edition of the “Autunno Pavese” event, which took place in Pavia in the first week of October, Maggi presented the first wine of the new harvest: the Pinot Noir Metodo Martinotti “2278”, which expresses all the freshness and joy of life of its youth. From the same grapes, harvested in August, the Metodo Classico “Armonia” and the Rosé “Atacama” will be obtained. At “Autunno Pavese”, a vertical tasting of six vintages of Buttafuoco Storico “Vigna Costera” was also presented to customers – 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2013 – the company’s iconic wine: “We wanted to verify the evolutionary characteristics of the wine, noting its notable potential, which places it in perspective among the great Italian red wines.” Wine journalist Mauro Giacomo Bertolli also participated in the vertical tasting: “I tasted wines of great interest, characterized by stylistic continuity. The most recent vintage, 2020, has an evolutionary potential of great importance. We can also say that 10-12 years are a time frame in which the evolution of Buttafuoco is positive, in which the wine changes over time, enriching itself.” “Since our vineyards are located at different altitudes,” adds Marco Maggi, “we have selected the Croatina most suitable for the production of another of our iconic wines. That is, the Bonarda “Fatum” (in Latin, “destiny”), dedicated to my grandfather Francesco and my daughter Emma, who fate wanted to be born on the same day.” “To promote the positioning of our wines on restaurant menus, in wine shops and in general in the perception of consumers,” concludes Maggi, “three years ago we created a personalized bottle with the company logo for our entire production: prestigious packaging, appropriate to the high level of the wines.” The Maggi Francesco Agricultural Company is a family business, founded in 1940 by Francesco Maggi, later developed by his sons, Angelino and Giuseppe, and now mainly by his grandson Marco. It is located in Canneto Pavese, one of the symbolic municipalities of the winemaking tradition of the Oltrepò Pavese. The company has 29 hectares of vineyards, 25 of which are owned. The average production is about 150 thousand bottles per year, divided between about twenty labels, expression of the different typologies of the territory. Note: the Buttafuoco Storico – Born on February 17, 1996, the Buttafuoco Storico Club, today brings together 17 producers who are bound to produce the traditional red wine of Oltrepò Pavese according to a strict internal regulation. The vines used are Barbera, Croatina and, jointly or separately, Uva Rara and Ughetta (Vespolina). The vineyard is unique for all the vines. The grapes are harvested and vinified all together, therefore it is a blend. The wine obtained is bottled in the historic Oltrepò Pavese bottle, on which the Club brand is printed.