Paradiso
While Emilia-Romagna is famed for its cheese and vinegar production
(particularly Parmigiano-Reggiano and Balsamic vinegar), its
wines are not known for achieving standard-bearer status.
However, the region’s dominant sparkling category offers
a range of bubblies that are very well suited to the rich
cuisine.
Moreover, this gastronomic wonderland’s Albana grape
was the first white varietal to earn DOCG status. While the
dry version is best known as a reliable companion for shellfish,
when vinified in a sweet style, it delivers an intense aromatic
expression comprising apricot and citrus fruits. Fattoria
Paradiso delivers the entire stylistic range, producing dry,
sweet, sparkling, and passito versions under the direction
of Mario Pezzi, one of Emilia-Romagna’s leading proponents.
The estate maintains that the passito bottling, Albana di
Romagna Passito “Gradisca,” was named by one of
its famous admirers, film director Federico Fellini. Fattoria
Paradiso also vinifies several reds, many of which are Sangiovese-based.
Of particular note among the reds is the Barbarossa, a grape
that eluded identification when Pezzi discovered it growing
among Sangiovese vines. This grape without a name was actually
one of three that Pezzi brought back from obscurity (the other
two were Cagnina and Pagadebit). An early believer in Sangiovese
Grosso’s ability to age, Pezzi was the first to craft
a Sangiovese Riserva.
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