NV Podere Sottoilnoce Cattabrega

90%  Uva Tosca 10% Lambrusco Grasparossa (vitis labrusca)

Hills of Castelvetro

Organic + Biodynamic

dark rosato sparkling  

Max makes this and his other wines in a mix of pet-nat and champagne method styles. Whereas a pet-nat is bottled before the first fermentation is done in order to capture the CO2, these wines go through a first fermentation until the juice (to wine) reaches ~11.5% alcohol, they are then bottled, leaving just enough sugar and alive yeasts to ferment to a fizz in the bottle. I suppose it’s like 1.5 fermentations…

Aromatic, savory and somewhat tart in the best way, it offers lively acid subtle bubbles, with a depth of red berry and wild watermelon flavors balanced by notes of fresh garden herbs. Try with the impending Summer vegetable bounty grilled and tossed with lemon juice. Naturally, mortadella and various salami would be happy if you invited them to the table as well.

Podere Sottoilnoce is a 6-hectare wine estate located in the picturesque village of Castelvetro di Modena, at the very heart of the Lambrusco Grasparossa DOC. Max Brondolo has been applying biodynamic principles since 2016, with the goal of maintaining the balance between monoculture (vineyards) and the surrounding nature. He owns 14 hectares, 6 of which are vineyard and the rest dedicated to the woods, lakes, and bees. He does not intend to expand his vineyards much or at all. 

Every choice Max makes takes into consideration his mission: to make natural, but tasty!, sparkling wines in the Emilia region’s tradition; further promote the diversity of Italy’s varieties and proliferate forgotten grapes; disrupt the natural setting as little as possible in his vineyards; and move away from what he describes as  “vineyard deserts.”

Max is part of a coalition of farmer/wine makers (viganioli) that call themselves the Modena Frizzante Frizzante Revolution. The coalition promotes grape diversity; biodynamic farming*; wine made in the Pét-Nat style**; use of natural/wild yeasts for fermentation; and the adamant renunciation of the Lambrusco DOC as they maintain the DOC code actually goes against tradition.