Masottina

Masottina - the characters on the wall 

Masottina is a sparkling wine producer from Veneto. The winery is located in Castello Roganzuolo, in the middle of the prestigious Prosecco region. Here they produce what is probably the most famous Italian sparkling wine in a wide variety of styles. The winery is run by the Dal Bianco family.

The story of Masottina begins in 1946, when Epifanio Dal Bianco acquires the Gorgo al Monticano estate, along with five hectares of vineyard and a farmhouse. When this was being renovated, the word Masottina was found on one of the original walls, which would rise to become the name of the new company. Adriano, Epifanio's son, later joined the family business. With his degree in enology from the University of Conegliano, he brought new impetus to the company. Thus, modern production technology was acquired to ensure a high, consistent standard of quality. Adriano also founded the Terre di Ogliano winery with his brothers, which also produces wines for Masottina. With his sons Federico and Filippo, the third generation of the family is now part of Masottina. The two support their father as sales manager and vice director.

The Prosecco region - home of Masottina

Masottina wines are made from the 280 hectares of vineyards the family has acquired over the years. The rolling hills of the Prosecco region provide an ideal foundation, allowing the vines to make the most of long days of sunshine. The main grape variety, which makes up the majority of Prosecco, is the Glera grape, which until recently was itself the name of the sparkling wine. However, individual corners of the region are planted with other grape varieties, some of which may be blended with Prosecco. These include, for example:

• Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir) for rosé Prosecco
• Bianchetta Trevi
• Perera

and some others.

The best regions are found around the municipalities of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano, and around the town of Asolo. Wines from these growing regions, vinified according to the guidelines of Prosecco production, are allowed to bear the label "Prosecco Superiore". The terroir is mainly characterized by clay, limestone and sandstone, but varies greatly across the different sub-areas. The climate is influenced by both due to the location between the sea and the Alps, constant ventilation helps the grapes to develop their optimal quality. 

The fillet pieces form the Rive - small, difficult to cultivate top locations around small villages, from which best qualities of the Prosecco come. 43 of them are currently recognized, the Rive wines of Masottina come from the municipality of Ogliano. About 20% of the vineyards in this municipality are cultivated by the Dal Bianco family. The grapes in this top vineyard are harvested exclusively by hand.

The path to the Masottina cellar

In the spirit of high quality production, Adriano introduced wine transport by gravity into the winery to avoid excessive oxidation of the grapes and must. It begins with the arrival of the grapes at the winery, proceeds to the soft pressing and transports the must to the fermentation vats. Aging in tanks and careful monitoring result in Masottina wines, which are the result of familiar rituals that represent outstanding historical terroirs, selection from a single vineyard or skillful blending of cuvées. Only in this way can the flavor and aromatic potential of each combination be defined and the wine fully express it in an elegant, clear product.

Masottina today produces a wide range of sparkling wines, with something for every lover of the region. Starting with the Virage sparkling wines, which are the entry-level segment and are the "pop" wines of the house. The Collezione 96 forms the backbone with classic Prosecco, the name comes from the 96 points that the house's simple Prosecco received in 2017 in the Decanter magazine competition. Costabella wines are the house's organic wines, with scrupulous attention to sustainability throughout the production process. Masottina's wines named Calmaggiore and Viaventi are a tribute to the Prosecco city of Treviso, capital of the province. Finally, the top of the portfolio is the Contragranda line from the hills of the municipalities of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, and the R.D.O.(Rive di Ogliano) wines.