"The first generation works, the second progresses, and the third spends" is a well-known saying that encapsulates the notion that, in many instances, generations follow a pattern: the first creates something from scratch, the second nurtures it, and the third squanders it. However, proverbs are merely that, popular sayings, and do not always mirror reality. Nowadays, there are numerous examples of families and businesses that defy this cycle. The first generation may initiate a venture, but the second not only expands it but also transforms and adapts it to contemporary times. Instead of "squandering" the wealth, the third generation can take that legacy further, innovating and blending tradition with modern trends. A prime example of this is Matteo Fasoli, who, as part of the third generation of the family winery Fasoli Gino, decided to go beyond and transform the entire estate into an organic-biodynamic project, aiming to restore the natural balance existing in the land.
Located in the region of Soave, Valpolicella, and Amarone in Verona, Italy, the estate currently cultivates 14 hectares of vineyard divided into seven sections, with the type of soil varying from one plot to another. From its extensive portfolio, Fasoli Gino Corte del Pozzo Valpolicella Ripasso is a red wine crafted from the corvina, corvinone, and rondinella grape varieties planted in stony and sandy soil. Grounded in the ideals of environmental sustainability and respect for the land, regenerative agriculture is practised, and the harvest is done manually at the optimal moment of ripeness. In the winery, the grapes are meticulously selected and pressed, and the resulting must ferments with indigenous yeasts in small oak barrels at a controlled temperature. Subsequently, the wine matures on fine lees for 18 months before bottling. Finally, it harmonises in the bottle before being released to the market.
Velvety, complex, and balanced, Fasoli Gino Corte del Pozzo Valpolicella Ripasso is a wine that illustrates that success is not determined by the number of generations, but by the vision and unwavering effort to responsibly and creatively grow the family legacy.