Mediterranean bubbles: where freshness meets the sea

In recent years, the bubble paradigm has profoundly changed and today we are starting to look with new eyes at the natural potential of some varieties, in particular those that grow along the coasts and islands of the Mediterranean. From Sicily to Sardinia, passing through Puglia, a new awareness has now been consolidated: freshness can be an intrinsic gift of the vine.

In this new scenario, Mediterranean grapes - native or otherwise - rich in personality and well-integrated natural acidity, prove to be ideal protagonists. They are varieties which, although born in warm climates, manage to maintain tension and vitality, giving sparkling wines that are not only fresh and dynamic, but also deeply identifying, capable of describing a territory with authenticity and style.

Brut Nature Monte Arso M.C., Barone di Villagrande

Young, dynamic and full of energy! However, the roots date back to 1727, when the Nicolosi Asmundo family intertwined their destiny with the vine for the first time. Today, ten generations later, the dream remains the same: to transform “a horrid place – son of the volcano – into a delightful garden”. The vineyards, surrounded by oak and chestnut woods, offer a unique and evocative setting. At 700 meters above sea level, they are capable of giving life to wines of extraordinary freshness, which stand out for their vibrant acidity and low alcohol content.

Brut Nature Monte Arso is a Classic Method cuvée, aged for 24 months on yeasts. The color is light bright yellow, the foam rich and the perlage fine. On the nose it is floral and citrusy with a delicate fragrance of bread yeast. The taste is dry, clean and vibrant.

Sicilia Rosato Extra Brut M.C., Curto

The roots of the Curto company also take us far back to the end of the 1700s, still in Sicily. The company is masterfully inserted in the ancient Villa Sulla, surrounded by vineyards, orange groves, olive groves and carob groves, all framed by the historic dry stone walls of the County of Modica. Francesca is now leading the company with determination and enthusiasm and, despite her solid and ancient roots, her vision is extremely current.

The biggest challenge – argues Francesca – is to better govern climate change, managing vineyards and water in a logic of sustainable viticulture. In the company, the elegance and authenticity of Nero d'Avola is favored in all its interpretations, including the Sicilia Rosato Extra Brut MC. 100% Avola Black, medium intensity pinkish colour, bright. The perlage is fine and persistent, on the nose you can notice the characteristic varietal aromas with hints of strawberries and mulberries. The taste is crunchy with an acidic note, perfectly balanced.

Brut, Feudo Disisa

Feudo Disisa is located in an area praised by the ancient emirs and protagonist of popular legends: the Monreale countryside. For almost two centuries it has belonged to the Di Lorenzo family, now in its fifth generation. The wines of Feudo Disisa are characterized by a skilful tradition and find their maximum expression in these lands, which have always been synonymous with abundance.

An example of this is Brut, 100% Chardonnay, which comes from the oldest vineyard of this variety present in the Feudo. The color is straw yellow and the perlage is fine and continuous. The hints of white flowers, green apple and toast are pleasant to the taste. The palate is fresh, elegant and persistent. 

Brut M.C., Ansaldi

We are always in Sicily, more precisely on the plateau of the Feudi di Marsala. Here, among the silence of the vineyards, is the Ansaldi company, born from the recovery of a nineteenth-century baglio with a long history. The baglio was once used as a base for sourcing grapes from the Birgi plateau. Today, the owners, in the same place, produce organic wines and combine the agricultural soul with the well-kept Sicilian hospitality.

Ansaldi Brut is a Classic Method obtained from the early harvest of the best Grillo biotypes. Equipped with a fine and persistent perlage, its scent is characterized by a citrus complex with pleasant notes of honey and toast. The palate is fresh and persistent.

Verdeca Pas Dosé Mavù, Weno

We move to the heart of Puglia, more precisely to Valle d'Itria, where Cosimo accompanied by his wife Alma, decided to create a company dedicated to the production of Classic Method sparkling wine. Cosimo in his bubbles was able to reconcile the depth and minerality of the daughter grapes of the karst land of the south, with the elegance and longevity of a bubble worthy of being part of the great family of the Classic Method.

An example of this is the company's first wine, Verdeca Pas Dosé Mavù MC, a 100% Verdeca characterized by a silky, fresh and savory bubble. On the nose, notes of ripe apricot and hazelnut emerge, accompanied by a slight sensation of bread crust. A shy balsamic note closes.

Q M.C. da uve Vermentino, Quartomoro

Last stop, Sardinia. Quartomoro represents a mix of lives, experiences and cultures. Founded in 2009 as an educational winery for Piero and his wife Luciana, the Quartomoro Company is constantly evolving and wants to be symbols of Sardinian biodiversity and its many synergies. The objective is in fact to highlight all the varietal notes of their grapes, also through the use of artisanal tools, inherited from grandparents.

Their Q Brut is deep straw yellow, with fine and persistent foam. Floral and Mediterranean herbal hints and good minerality emerge on the nose. On the palate it is fresh, elegant and with iodine notes of ripe fruit and spices.