THE FARM If you want to discover the Vallona grape growing and wine producing farm and you want to meet the owner, don't phone for an appointment, don't send faxes or emails, don't go to the wine cellar but go to the countryside where the vines are. Among the vines is where you'll find Maurizio Vallona with his grape vines planted on this perfect territory in the Bologna hills. You'll probably find Maurizio pruning or thinning out the "historical" grape vines of Fagnano, close to the farm and the wine cellar which is very close to the medieval village of Castello di Serravalle, or you can find Maurizio pruning the vines on the new land of Lamezzi in Monte San Pietro among a green amphitheatre of wood and gullies, where he has recently planted, by himself, and even did the breaking up of the soil, the more selected grapes, for wines that already have a well established reputation but still; have much more to give. Black tie benefits and fancy dinners are definitely not Maurizio's thing, who is on the other hand a very pleasant person. It's fashionable now to use the word vine-dresser but Maurizio, takes no rubbish, and from the beginning of his career he has always been a farmer, a true farmer. Maurizio is certainly not the kind of person to boast titled family coat of arms and has no reference to improbable stories of monks and antique noble birth around his land Vallona boasts, only, - and sorry if it's too little - that special sensitivity and ability to analyze nature, the environment, the sky, the earth and the plants. Something that only one who really lives and loves the land can do.
THE OLDER Maurizio's love for this land started back in 1980 when he was a student living to the full in the city of Bologna, going around the Bologna hills on his Vespa (a song that was sung twenty years later, for other reasons, by Cesare Cremonini from a group called Luna Pop), exploring the magnificent and almost unknown Bologna hills, cliffs, coves, woods and fields, parish churches and mansions and the beautiful view of the Padana Plain right up to the alps. After peeking around grandpa Silverio's farm, that in Fagnano ran a quiet little traditional farmhouse dedicated, partly to breeding livestock and partly to cultivating fruit trees (this area is particularly renowned for Vignola cherries). Maurizio helped with the work on the farm and also participated in the choices made. This is exactly what Maurizio Vallona wanted. A little at a time a very young Maurizio started to settle next to grandpa Silverio. So cherries? Not on your life, said the far-sighted youngster So away with the cherries and on with the grand passion for the vines which began in 1985 with the first grape vines and the building of the cellar.
TODAY Even nowadays Maurizio still studies, loves and walks the land, he observes and treats the vines himself and in the wine making process he personally sees to the production and never seeks the help of renowned wine makers but uses only his presence, experience, precision and professionalism. Endowments coming from an enormous passion which only comes second to the family (the two children Martina and Federico, whose names have been given to the most important wines) which is slightly higher than the passion for the mountain but which has not prevented him from studying in depth by travelling and continuously consulting paperwork. Yes, because Maurizio Vallona, born in 1962, regardless of his young age, has already accumulated 22 years of harvests and has always personally supervised the picking of the first grape to the last bunch and to the last bottle solo. Life moments and worry, from which he has lived and learnt in order to improve each time so as not to persuade him to produce the "selections" if the yearly harvest was not quite perfect, as in 2002.
THE WINE Maurizio Vallona's wines have the characteristic of being extremely personalized, however they are fruit of a very precise intepretation of the territory, in fact the Bologna hills territory is renown both for its so called international vines (cultivated in the area for several decades) and its autochthonous grapes such as Pignoletto which is exclusive to the area. As regards Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Vallona manages to obtain, with these grapes, the same quality as he does from his monovariety. But also with the autochthonous grapes he manages to astonish. From the still white "Pignoletto Classico" from the rich aromatic taste which is not detrimental to its elegance and the expedient notes of freshness and sapidity. The "Pignoletto Vivace" (sparkling Pignoletto) is also extremely pleasant, a fruity and flowery bouquet, sapid with the typical bitterish taste. But the champion is "Permartina" Pignoletto, grapes with a little "Riesling Renano" made from late harvest grapes, an almost "Alsatian" wine, rich, exotic, soft" with the right structure in order to sustain an impartial seductive taste.
CLASSIC WINE Vivace D.O.C. (Light Sparklin Pignoletto) Pignoletto Classico D.O.C.G. ( Classic Pignoletto ) Bianco Bologna D.O.C. (Sauvignon Blanc and other) Rosso Bologna D.O.C. (Cabernet Sauvignon and other) Primedizione Emilia I.G.T. (Cuvèe of Pignoletto and other)
SELECTION WINE Ammestesso (Classic Pignoletto) Permartina (Late Harvest Pignoletto) Diggioanni (Cabernet Sauvignon) Affederico (Merlot) Altr Uve (Raisin Pignoletto)
SPARKLING WINE Cà Novina Brut (Classic Method Pignoletto ) Essè Brut (Charmat Method Pignoletto)
X RAY WHO: Maurizio Vallona Owner Bolognese, born 1962 LOCATION: Via Sant Andrea 203 MUNICIPALITY: Valsamoggia PROVINCE: Bologna STATE: Italia WINE SURFACE: 40 Ha. C.ca ALTITUDE: 200/350 Mt. S.l.m MARKETING AREA: Stefano Vallona (Maurizio Vallona Brother s FARM PHONE: +39 051 6703333 MAURIZIO VALLONA PHONE: +39 335 337988 STEFANO VALLONA PHONE: +39 346 0144971 EMAIL: info@fattorievallona.it EMAIL: stefano.vallona@gmail.com
OUR WINES IN THE WORLD Germany United Kingdom Switzerland Danmark Japan United State of America U.A.E
VIVACE D.O.C. White - lightly sparkling Pignoletto. Straightforward taste. Simple, informal and never banal. 11,5% Vol.
CLASSIC PIGNOLETTO D.O.C.G. White - pure Pignoletto. A great classic, full-bodied and robust. The prince of our land 13,5% Vol.
BOLOGNA BIANCO D.O.C Sauvignon Blanc and other Reserved for important occasions. It is in its own way against the mainstream 13,5% Vol.
BOLOGNA ROSSO D.O.C Cabernet Sauvignon and other It s been on our hills for two centuries. It s come from afar, but likes it here with us. We insist that it respects its origins. 13,5% Vol.
PRIMEDIZIONE White Wine Obtained from Pignoletto grapes and age-old vines. A unique wine that needs time to mature. All-round and aromatic 13,5% Vol.
AMMESTESSO White - pure Pignoletto. It matures for four years without touching wood, Fully preserving its youth. The first harvest in 2006 closed a 20-year study path. 14% Vol.
PERMARTINA White Wine Obtained from a late Pignoletto and Riesling harvest. Smooth, non conformist, original and anarchistic It looks far removed but was born in our hills 14% Vol.
AFFEDERICO Red - pure Merlot. It needs care protection and looking after over the years, just like a child. It is mild and sophisticated, and brings satisfaction 14% Vol.
DIGGIOANNI Red - pure Cabernet Sauvignon. Genuine, strong and noble. It represents the past and the future of our wine-cellar. 14% Vol.
CA NOVINA BRUT White Wine Obtained from Pignoletto grapes and age-old vines. A unique wine that needs time to mature. All-round and aromatic 13,5% Vol.
ESSE BRUT White, sparkling, Pignoletto Comes from a careful selection of the best grapes. Is the result of extensive research and passion. Intense scent, with notes of ripe fruit and dried 12,5% Vol.
Artisan Winemaker of Bologna Hills