GAVI. «To look ahead but, above all, to look far. Even in a very difficult period like that of the pandemic. The right time to invest, to make new projects and even to hire ». It is with this spirit (in the interview granted to Adn Kronos that we report here, ed) that Chiara Soldati, fifth generation and today the “sunny face” of Tenuta La Scolca, a historic Piedmontese winery, has faced these months.
Purchased over a century ago by the great-grandfather of the current owner Giorgio Soldati, who runs the company together with his daughter Chiara, it has its vineyards in the most beautiful locations of Rovereto, in the province of Alessandria, and its Gavi dei Gavi is the highest representation of the wine that is produced in this micro-zone. Or, better still, Gavi, made from Cortese grapes, was invented right here, in La Scolca, and has become a model of style for more than 100 years. «Looking far – says Chiara Soldati – today means understanding what the post Covid scenarios and future trends will be. The pandemic crisis has strongly marked the world economy not only in terms of losses, but also and above all in bringing out the need for new approaches. The first is that which concerns the consolidation of a strong identity of Italian production: today what makes the difference is the uniqueness of our territory. Apparently, the marked fragmentation of the Italian wine market could appear as a weakness, but if we communicate our uniqueness as an “Italian wine system”, the varietal difference becomes a great plus on a global level, becoming a distinctive sign with respect to the offer of vines. international. Telling, for example, the Cortese vine of Gavi to the world is telling something unique, not replicable. It was and is our strength for the future ».
«Another fundamental approach to compete abroad – he continues – will be to create a system with wineries; the Italy team today can, in line with sporting successes, demonstrate that they know how to play on the field of outsourcing as a cohesive community. Finally, the issue of distribution is important. During the Covid phase, many wineries invested in online distribution through e-commerce: the online market is increasingly an interesting tool for constant contact with enthusiasts and the public; at the same time, however, it is necessary to support Horeca which over the years has built the success of Italian wine in our country and in the world. For this reason, as a company, we wanted to invest in a new e-commerce channel for our winelovers and at the same time confirm our presence alongside those who every day tell and enhance our product “.
As for the recently completed harvest, expectations are excellent. “Like La Scolca we look at this 102nd harvest, which recorded an excellent harvest after a dry summer, with a constant temperature range between day and night and a yield reported by the Region at 95 quintals per hectare, with a spirit of innovation and modernity and with a three-year investment plan that immediately wants to look far, even in terms of sustainability ”, explains Chiara Soldati.
And 2021 also brought the company new important international awards. Last in chronological order that of the Merano Wine Festival, where, on November 6, Chiara Soldati received the Platinum Award 2021 attributed to La Scolca D’Antan Rosè Millesimato Riserva 2009 by The WineHunter. While two other awards came from Austria and Germany. On the occasion of the Piemonte Bianco Trophy 2021, La Scolca D’Antan 2007, which won the first prize with 94 points, won the attention of the Falstaff jury, who wanted to underline the importance of the white production of the Piedmontese territory for the whites of Piedmont.
At Mundus Vini – 29th Grand International Wine Award, one of the most important competitions in the world, the jury awarded the 2007 La Scolca D’Antan with the Gold Medal, thus confirming this iconic label of the Gavi winery in the Olympus of great white wines . “Countries like Austria, Germany and Switzerland – underlines Chiara Soldati – represent an important market for us, a public that is increasingly attentive to territorial identity, high quality and the craftsmanship of wine that is in the DNA of history of my family. The first prize at La Scolca D’Antan 2007 is a further confirmation of the great aging capacity of the Cortese grape. Since the 1970s we have been convinced of the potential for evolution of Cortese and the acknowledgments of the critics of recent years are confirmation of this: a successful bet that once again brings Italian production fully into the Olympus of the great white wines of the world ».