New wine at home PuntoZero in the Colli Berici

At home PuntoZero Marcella was born. The new red wine that celebrates the Colli Berici In their essence and personality. What they are, I discovered them from the words of Marcella Toffano De’ Besi at the helm of the winery in Lonigo, in the hills with the rich and precious soil of the area in the province of Vicenza.

I used to complain that I never talk about it enough, but fortunately every now and then such welcome invitations as Marcella Toffano, Anna and Carolina De’ Besi come. It was her daughters who gave her name and this new product that recognized all of their mother’s personality in the new label.

A project called PuntoZero

We are in Lonigo, here in the hills, a project is born called PuntoZero. From zero steps forward, he has indeed made several. It is not just about wine; the matter here is much more complex. Forest, fruit trees, vegetable garden, herbs, wild and wild flowers, grazing animals, numerous inhabitants belonging to wildlife, as well as richness in terms of soil natures. Iron-rich basalt of unmistakable red hues, to white and yellow fossils, to reserves in water that come from the woods behind, through the winds that move and feed everything. They raise and lower temperatures, foster in a valuable alliance with the bees pollination, shuffle the cards in a game of balance and respect between humans and nature.

My first time

PuntoZero holds an element of poetry, and poetic is also the image I associate with this place. It was 2019, which seems so far away, when I made the acquaintance of this place. I happened to be enraptured by an image that to this day is the first image that comes to mind when I think about it. From the tasting room, through a small window in a side room I catch a glimpse of the hill behind the winery. Perfectly framed in that natural picture were two grazing horses intent on grazing in a dimension of calm and serenity. At that time, I, who was not serene at all, for a moment that lasted a century, stopped to contemplate (to the point of longing for) that calm, peace and serenity. At PuntoZero those feelings must reign supreme. The impression is that places like this, even if everything seems to be going wrong, manage sooner or later to bring balance again by turning situations around.

Biodiversity and old vines

Anecdotes and personal feelings aside, the fact is that the company is diversified and certified biodiversity. Hilarious, as authentic as it is, is Marcella’s account of one of the inspectors’ first visits to analyze and monitor the company. Toads, worms, more or less inviting insects have been discovered and catalogued, not to mention the species of plants and flowers that coexist and make room for the vine. Here, among the 50 hectares of land, 12 of which are vineyards, old vines peep out. Plants 40-50 years old that predate the coming of Marcella and Andrea in 1994.

From the ancient vineyards, whose woods guard the memory of this territory more than anyone else on the estate, with the 2022 vintage, the first 3,000 bottles of the new PuntoZero house wine in the Berici Hills Marcella Colli Berici are born.. Symbol of the territory first and foremost as a blend of three grapes. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tai Rosso. The first with a small wooden stay, otherwise all steel. Warm and powerful, as this territory knows how to transform wines, it becomes Marcella shortly after the harvest finding union in steel and resting in the bottle for about 6 months before release. A distinctive blend with POP character, taste and price.

Made from the most representative grapes and from the oldest vines, dedicated moreover to the founder of the winery this is not the most prestigious wine the winery produces!

But how is this possible?

The answer is simple. It does not represent the pinnacle of the company’s production, but that does not make it any less ambitious. Accessible is not trivial. Accessible is welcoming. Like the welcome that, in that spring 2019, Marcella also gave to an unknown me. Allowing me to overlook a project that has never been still and is vital in the soul. Thus was to be the wine that bears his name. Vibrant, never still, accessible, welcoming, hospitable. In uncorking the bottle, tasting it and telling you about it, all that remains is to extend to you also the invitation to go and discover the PuntoZero company in person. You will then let me know if I am right and you too will create memories destined to come with you wherever life takes you.

Welcome Marcella, another step forward from zero leading higher and higher.

TO READ THE WINE DESCRIPTIONS, WITH SCORE AND AVERAGE SHELF PRICE, CLICK ON THE TABS BELOW.