Wines from the Eastcoast of Italy with Miki Bisceglia (Thurs 1st May)

Welcoming speaker of the evening, Miki Bisceglia of Italian Wine Importers to The Oak Barrel!

Miki Bisceglia … “Born in the north of Puglia around the Gargano National Park area but grew up in Milano, hospitality and wine are in my blood. My parents both worked in hospitality and my grandparents built an hotel down in Puglia in the 1970’s! Also, my uncle is an artisan Gelataio/pasticcere (Gelato maker and seller) and my cousins produce olive oil… so what else could I do! I started working in hopso/restaurants very early on (about 16 years old) and my passion for food and vino has always grown since since then thanks to my family. Specifically my passion for wine started from my dad, as he loved his wines, would take me to the producers all around our region then take the vino back to his home cantina. Sometimes even from damigianas for the cheaper easier everyday drinking stuff and we would bottle the vino together back home!

At 24 I left for London to work in hospo for 2 years and spent time with Embassy Mayfair and La Floridita. Soon, I moved to Sydney and worked at Otto’s and started my WSET studies, along with opening up Firedoor and being the Head Sommiller there for 4 years! The last 5 years i jumped over to distribution, spending a few great years with High Hopes and now Italian Wine Importers Australia!”

About the wineries…

Visintini – Located on the hills in the south of the DOC of Friuli Colli Orientali, the estate of Visintini was purchased back in 1884 by Domenico Visintini. It has been passed through the family to now be managed by siblings Oliviero, Cinzia and Palmira. The estate has converted to biodynamic and organic practices with a respect for traditions and an eye on the future.
Generations of dedication have helped the family produce wines of purity which express the
fertile ground of Friuli. Yields are kept low, vineyards and fruit are respected and worked as less as possible to help extract quality aromas and flavours typical to the varietals planted, both indigenous and international.

Canoso – The Canoso family has been the owner of the winery located on the hills of Monteforte d’Alpone since 1876, located very close to Verona.
Canoso works 12 hectares in the hills (between 90m and 290m) in different plots, mostly exposed to the south-east. The vineyards range from between 20 and 45 years of age, with a guyot system which has gradually replaced the traditional Veronese Pergola, reducing production quantity hence improving quality. The harvest, and most other operations carried out in the vineyards, are done completely by hand.
In 2016 the Canoso family with the help of Giovanni and Francesco have relaunched the brand and established themselves as high quality wines producers proud of the volcanic territory of Soave.

Tenuta di Tavignano – Tenuta di Tavignano was founded by Stefano Aymerich di Laconi and Beatrice Lucanegli where until the 1990s the estate’s activities were based on the cultivation of cereals, vegetables and fodder crops. Then the decision was taken to plant and cultivate indigenous wine varieties of the territory. In 2014, Odine de la Feld Aymerich, an arch-designer with a past in fashion but a strong tradition in agricultural entrepreneurship, joined Tenuta di Tavignano along with the granddaughter of Stefano and Beatrice and marked the green turn of the entire production with their modern, dynamic and entrepreneurial style.
The estate is now certified organic and the approach by the family is completely and proudly sustainable. As the family states, they have collected what happened in this place, studied it and made it part of them. Their profound knowledge of the land and its history along with the exceptional characteristics of the DOC Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi is their secret. Today the entire estate stretches over 230 hectares of land with 30 dedicated to vines. The vineyards are managed meticulously, hand-picked, respecting the plant’s life cycle, promoting biodiversity and healthy self-sufficient vines.

Cantina Orsogna (Lunaria) – Cantina Orsogna, created in 1964, is a Co-Operative company. Set in the scenic Majella hills of Abruzzo, just 15 kilometres from the Adriatic, its vineyard’s benefit from the significant day-night temperature swings and ventilation in the vineyards thanks to the fresh breezes which result from both its altitude and its maritime location.
The Estate was named ‘Italian Winery of the Year’ at Vinitaly in 2012. It is the largest producer of Organic and Biodynamic wines in the south-centre of Italy. It has more than 1,100 hectares of vines, 80% are certified organic, and 30% are certified biodynamic by Demeter. Cantina Orsogna has been Certified Biodynamic since 2005 and has been Organic producers for more than 30 years. The winemaking team is headed by the super-talented Camillo Zulli. The Lunaria wines are certified Biodynamic by Demeter.

Sadivino – The story of Sadivino starts with Cristiano Mengozzi spending many an afternoon year on year with his beloved grandfather, Paspqualin in his cellar. From modest contadini (farmers) beginnings watching Pasqualin checking the mix, filtering and decanting the wine from vats into demijohns and being surrounded by the aromas and scents which filled the cellar the young Cristiano’s passion was born. He developed a love for the land and the understanding for the effort it took to care for it and reap its rewards.
In 2011, he was able to begin production under the Sadivino estate with two IGP wines. Today he has
expanded the business to produce six reds and three whites coming from vines meticulously cared for on
the hills of Predappio and Predappio Alto. Working with the indigenous varieties of Sangiovese and Albana along with some internationals he has maintained his artisanal approach to produce wines of flavour and characteristics of each individual vineyard. The bottles are beautifully presented with illustrations from renowned local artist and now friend, Grota and capture his enthusiasm and passion for his land and wine.

Secondo Marco – Marco Speri is part of the fifth generation of wine producers of Valpolicella. From knowledge gained through his father, he created his new company ‘SECONDO MARCO’ in Fumane in the heart of the Valpolicella Classica region, where there are all the elements in order to produce special wines, from the land to the climate. Between Verona and Lake Garda, at the foot of the Lessini Mountains, where an intersection of winds, cold from the mountains and mild from the lake, are particularly favourable for the vine.
His desire to blend tradition and innovation results in the choice to implement a Y shape system for the vineyard that does not require invasive maintenance. Grapes are handpicked and harvested in an easier way and without running the risk of being damaged, preserving the character of the grapes of this region and directing these changes in his own way. Tradition helps, as does technological innovation, but the most important thing is intuition and the ability to transform the passing of time into an original flavour that is different every year.

Accordini – This estate winery has deep country roots. It’s founders were originally share-croppers, then landowners and finally winemakers. Led by Stefano, helped by his wife Giuseppina and his two sons, Tiziano and Daniele they are now making exceptional Valpolicella wines. The new millennium was very significant for the Stefano Accordini winery. It was decided to move the wine production to their highest vineyard in the Valpolicella Classico area, a move which has allowed the production of wine of excellent quality. The project began with the purchase of 10 hectares in Cavolo, situated in Fumane at 550 metres above sea level (now the highest winery in the zone).

Fabiana – The Azienda Agricole Fabiana is owned and managed by mother and daughter, Anna and Fabiana Barulli. They operate the winery utilizing only sustainable practices with no chemical herbicides. The 30 hectares of the Fabiana farm are on a calcareous clay soil which allows it to produce wines of great personality and intensity, influenced by the proximity of the sea and the warm temperatures. The vines have an age ranging from 5 to 50 years, the processes are carried out with the utmost respect for nature using organic products. The harvest is carried out at night for the white wines and scrupulously by hand for the red wines to ensure that the bunches remain intact in their aromas. The winery is located on the lonian coast in the province of Taranto (Puglia), the most notable area for Primitivo di Manduria.

“We have a passion for seeking out and bringing to Australia wines which speak of place and people, wines which deliver excellent quality and price. Italian Wine importers is now into our second decade and excited to partner with the expertise and international reach of Inalca Food & Beverage.
We have a keen focus to work with boutique, often family-owned wineries, that work within minimal intervention often organic practices and share a sensibility and philosophy of working by hand, managing the land, and communities linked to these spectacular wine regions of Italy and neighbouring countries.”
Italian Wine Importers

The Oak Barrel welcomes Miki our Tasting Room to showcase the quality of the eastcoast of Italy! On pour…