Controvento
Characteristics
Appellation: Veneto Bianco IGT from dried grapes – Certified Organic
Variety: 100% Muscaris
Alcohol content: 11% vol
Production: 325 half bottles (vintage 2023); 165 half bottles (vintage 2024)
Format: 375 ml
Terroir
Controvento is born on the steep slopes of Monte Baldo, at over 800 meters above sea level — where the mountain meets the sky and the vines face truly extreme conditions. The soils are rocky and clayey, rich in limestone and stones; the southern exposure and the view over Lake Garda enhance ventilation and sharp temperature shifts. This is where an unconventional passito is born — the result of heroic, sustainable mountain viticulture.
Tasting Notes
Controvento is a sweet wine that breaks conventions. It opens with intense aromas of rose petals, pear, apricot, rosemary, face powder, and hawthorn. On the palate, it is surprisingly lean and dynamic: sweetness and acidity find perfect balance, offering a clean, mineral, and persistent taste. A contemporary passito — youthful, gastronomic, and refined.
Harvest and Winemaking
The harvest takes place slightly earlier than full ripeness to preserve freshness and acidity. Hand-selected clusters are left to naturally dry for about four weeks. After a gentle pressing, the must ferments in stainless steel at low temperature until it reaches 10–11% alcohol and a residual sugar of 90–100 g/L — the ideal point of harmony between sweetness, freshness, and acidity. After bottling, Controvento rests for several months to refine its balance.
Food Pairings
Controvento pairs beautifully with savory dishes: its fresh, mineral character makes it perfect with oysters, raw fish, foie gras, and blue cheeses. Served chilled, it also works wonderfully as a sweet aperitif or a refined, unconventional end to a meal.
Awards and Recognitions
Controvento has captured critical attention for its originality and finesse. It received 94 points from Falstaff and the Merano Wine Hunter Award. Included among the Best 1000 Wines of Italy by L’Espresso, it is recognized as a modern sweet wine — elegant, slender, and deeply rooted in its terroir.