Finally, the wine is ready for bottling. It can be clarified or filtered, so it stays clear and stable. Bottling is like closing a door: it seals the wine, and the wine can travel, rest, and be opened later—at the table, with people.
2. Lo spumante
Sparkling wine
aggiunge
it adds
un trucco
a trick
in più:
extra:
intrappola
it traps
il gas
the gas
per fare
to make
le bollicine.
the bubbles.
Prima
First
si fa
you make
un vino base—proprio come
a base wine—just like
un normale vino fermo.
a normal still wine.
Di solito
Usually
è
it is
fresco
fresh
e con
and with
alta acidità,
high acidity,
perché
because
lo spumante
sparkling wine
ha bisogno
it needs
di slancio
momentum
ed energia.
and energy.
Sparkling wine adds one extra trick: it traps gas to make bubbles. First you make a base wine—just like a normal still wine. Usually it is fresh and has high acidity, because sparkling wine needs energy.
3. Poi
Then
il produttore
the producer
crea
he creates
una seconda fermentazione.
a second fermentation.
Aggiunge
he adds
un po’
a little
di lievito
of yeast
e un po’
and a little
di zucchero.
of sugar.
Il lievito
The yeast
mangia
it eats
lo zucchero
the sugar
e produce
and it produces
di nuovo
again
alcol
alcohol
e anidride carbonica—ma
and carbon dioxide—but
questa volta
this time
lo spazio
the space
è
it is
chiuso.
closed.
Il gas
The gas
non può
it cannot
uscire,
go out,
quindi
so
si scioglie
it dissolves
nel vino.
in the wine.
Questo è
This is
il segreto:
the secret:
le bollicine
the bubbles
sono
they are
gas
gas
di fermentazione
from fermentation
intrappolato.
trapped.
Then the producer creates a second fermentation. He adds a little yeast and a little sugar. The yeast eats the sugar and produces alcohol and carbon dioxide again—but this time the space is closed. The gas cannot go out, so it dissolves in the wine. This is the secret: the bubbles are trapped gas from fermentation.
4. Quando
When
versi
you pour
uno spumante,
a sparkling wine,
le bollicine
the bubbles
salgono
they rise
e portano
and they bring
gli aromi
the aromas
verso l’alto.
up.
Per questo
For this reason
lo spumante
sparkling wine
può
it can
profumare
smell
tanto.
a lot.
Le bollicine
The bubbles
cambiano
they change
anche
also
la sensazione
the feeling
in bocca:
in the mouth:
sembra
it seems
più leggero,
lighter,
più pungente
sharper
e più vivace
and more lively
sulla lingua.
on the tongue.
When you pour a sparkling wine, the bubbles rise and bring the aromas up. For this reason, sparkling wine can smell a lot. The bubbles also change the feeling in the mouth: it seems lighter, sharper, and more lively on the tongue.
5. Il vino moderno
Modern wine
non è
it is not
solo
only
gusto.
taste.
Sta
it is
anche
also
dentro
in
domande più grandi:
bigger questions:
terra,
land,
clima,
climate,
acqua
water
ed energia.
and energy.
Molti
Many
produttori
producers
cercano di
they try to
lavorare
work
con la natura
with nature
in modo più intelligente.
in a smarter way.
Riducono
they reduce
i trattamenti chimici,
chemical treatments,
piantano
they plant
colture di copertura
cover crops
tra i filari
between the rows
e sostengono
and they support
la biodiversità—più
biodiversity—more
insetti,
insects,
più uccelli,
more birds,
suolo più sano.
healthier soil.
Modern wine is not only about taste. It is also about bigger questions: land, climate, water, and energy. Many producers try to work with nature in a smarter way. They reduce chemical treatments, plant cover crops between the rows, and support biodiversity—more insects, more birds, and healthier soil.
6. E l’Italia
And Italy
è
it is
un esempio perfetto
a perfect example
di come
of how
il luogo
the place
dà forma
it gives form
al vino.
to the wine.
Il paese
The country
va
it goes
dalle montagne alpine
from the Alpine mountains
alle isole soleggiate.
to the sunny islands.
Puoi
you can
trovare
find
vigneti più freschi
cooler vineyards
vicino alle Alpi,
near the Alps,
venti di mare
sea winds
lungo la costa
along the coast
e suoli vulcanici
and volcanic soils
nel sud.
in the south.
L’Italia
Italy
ha
it has
un’enorme eredità
a huge heritage
di uve:
of grapes:
oltre 350
over 350
varietà autorizzate
approved varieties
e quasi 600
and almost 600
cultivar registrate.
registered cultivars.
Questo significa
This means
che
that
l’Italia
Italy
non è
it is not
solo
only
“uno stile di vino.”
“a wine style.”
È
It is
molte identità locali
many local identities
in un solo paese.
in one single country.
And Italy is a perfect example of how place shapes wine. The country goes from the Alpine mountains to sunny islands. You can find cooler vineyards near the Alps, sea winds along the coast, and volcanic soils in the south. Italy has a huge grape heritage: over 350 approved varieties and almost 600 registered cultivars. This means Italy is not only “one wine style.” It is many local identities in one single country.
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