Ferrari Trento – “A Dream is all you Need”

Giulio Ferrari had a dream and he made his dream a reality. Welcome, To Ferrari

 

What Giulio Ferrari started back in 1902 has become an extraordinary location that creates unforgettable sparkling wines. Giulio wanted to be able to turn the area of Trentino into a place capable of competing with the finest French Champagnes.

 

He knew the area of Trentino was a good location to plant vines, so after choosing the location he had the challenge of picking the vines he wanted to plant, he went for Chardonnay and ended up becoming the first person to make substantial plantings of Chardonnay in Italy.

 

You could say that Giulio Ferrari had an obsession when it came to the quality of his wines, making sure that the wines he made were perfect, he put in a lot of time and effort to create something extraordinary, and although he isn’t with us today, you can still taste that passion and attention to detail in Ferrari’s range of sparkling wines.

 

Sadly Giulio had no children to pass down the wisdom he had obtained and the vineyard he had built up, but he didn’t want what he created to go to just anyone, so he started looking for a successor, and in his search he found, Bruno Lunelli, an owner of a wine shop in Trento, he handed down Ferrari to this entrepreneurial man who was able to increase the quantity of production without losing the quality Giulio had worked so hard to obtain, thanks to Bruno Lunelli, more people were able to discover and enjoy a bottle of Ferrari.

 

Giulio Ferrari’s dream is still very much alive today, with the 3rd generation of the Lunelli family working for Ferrari, but they’re not the only ones, they have ambassadors all over the world helping to spread brand awareness and introducing Ferrari to people globally.

I wanted to contact Michael Edwards and get his opinion on this subject, especially towards Giulio Ferrari, knowing that he has an immense knowledge of sparkling wines and has also travelled to and visited Ferrari Trento many times previously. Michael Edwards is a well respected author on Champagne and sparkling wines as well as being the honorary judge at the Glass of Bubbly Awards.

I was delighted that Michael shared the following words with me:

“Giulio Ferrari is now without question the most revered sparkling wine in Italy. Its enduring freshness, precision and unmatched ability to age, owes everything to the altitude of their mountain vineyards over calcareous soils and of course to the family winemakers, especially Mauro Lunelli and now Marcello Lunelli & his enologist Ruben (Larentis).” – Michael Edwards

 

Michael Edwards tasting notes on the Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore Rosé 2006 – “A hauntingly beautiful color, sui generis, redolent of mountain purity; more precisely, translucent ruby with coppery light, then a hint of coral and even, for me, an impressionist aspect as if looking through a roseate stained-glass window. Stainless-steel fermented, with full malolactic; there is no indication of oak influence, though in its long life on its less, it may very likely have been partly aged in large casks. The aromas are precise, delicate, yet so persistent and penetrating, apple blossom and succulent wild cherry to the fore. The mouthfeel is extraordinary, with a driving verticality, as it the wine accelerates down the mountainside straight into one’s glass. Manifold complexities on the mid-palate and a very long, distinguished life to come. Ferrari Fondatore is one of the greatest single-vineyard rosés of my life, my point of reference in a quite different expression from the rare Roederer Cristal Rosé 2002 from a single plot in Aÿ. Magnificent. 97/100”

Giulio Ferrari Range of Italian Sparkling Wines

 

I got the pleasure to taste a regular sized bottle of the Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 2007, which won a Gold Medal in the Classic & Elegant Category at The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly Awards 2019, here are my tasting notes.

Aroma – “Golden and yellow fruits, a light creaminess and a hint of lightly toasted bread on the aroma.”

Taste – “A smooth & crisp yellow fruit flavour with a little zestiness on the close.”

 

The rest of these Giulio Ferrari Sparkling Wines were all tasted by Christopher Walkey at Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore Magnum Vertical Tasting held in 2018, starting from their 2007 vintage and ending up at their 1986 vintage.

Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 2007: “It’s Ferrari, it’s Giulio Ferrari and it’s a magnum so you know you are going to embrace magic. Delicate citrus, pastry, honey and yellow stone fruit aromas. Magnificent flavours expressed – initially dry citrus, then smooth brioche and honey hints with a mouthwatering fresh yellow fruit ending.”

 

Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 2006: “Toffee, sea breeze, dark chocolate, citrus hints, butter and more from an amazing aroma. Flavours are refreshing, crisp citrus and minerals.”

 

Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 2005: “Lively perlage in the glass. Many aromas to include citrus, white rose petals, sea breeze and brioche. Crisp and refreshing yellow fruit / citrus flavours with subtle toast, honey and minerals in the background.”

 

Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 2004: “Lively citrus, toast and honey flavours offered from this wonderful magnum. Certainly crisp and fresh though as it breathes and reduces down to room temperature it really expresses flavour complexity of tropical, yellow rose petals and much more.”

 

Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 2001: “A toasty, honey, yellow fruits and sea breeze nose. Crisp and very refreshing flavours mostly delicate citrus, dried apricots, pastry and minerals.”

 

Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 2000: “Mixture of butter, toast, sea breeze and yellow fruits on the nose. Crisp and dry initial flavours, minerals, citrus, distant yeast and butter.”

 

Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 1999: “Toast, sweet citrus, tropical aromas. Crisp subtle citrus and buttered toast flavours with salty mineral hints.”

 

Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 1997: “Honey, sea breeze, mango, citrus and pastry aromas. Enjoyable flavours that are clean and crisp, minerals and more.”

 

Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 1994: “Dreamy aromas of yellow fruits, rose petals, buttered toast, honeycomb. Delicate flavours with an orchestra of different notes including fresh green fruits, tropical, honey, burnt toast, butter. This magnum is such an impressive bottle of vintage bubbly.”

 

Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 1992: “Aromas of sultanas, tropical, smooth caramel and sea breeze. Citrus and yellow fruits on initial taste followed by minerals, lemon curd and more…“

 

Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 1989: “Soft and expressive. Honey, blossom, sea breeze, yellow fruits on the nose. Crisp and soft citrus initially then toasty and elegant tasting length.”

 

Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 1986: “Deep and complex aromas of rich dried apricots, dates, caramel, lemon curd and so much more. Taste gives plum, dried apricots, citrus, red apples, minerals, truffles and more.”

 

After digging deeper into the history of Ferrari, tasting their Giulio Ferrari 2007 vintage and hearing from Michael Edwards, it’s clear to me that this is a must visit winery and region for anyone who is in love with Sparkling Wine.