ITALY. Distilleria Bottega celebrated the traditional fall harvest of the Prosecco DOC wine in its vineyards with an historical feast last week.
The annual event, held on 9 September for the third time, is “a mix of tradition, charm and fun”, company owner Sandro Bottega told The Moodie Report.
Dressed in Venetian costumes from the 18th Century, actors from Compagnia de Calza picked the grapes and poured them into wooden barrels. Shortly after sunset, the same grapes were stomped by girls wearing traditional costumes.
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Girls wearing branded Bottega aprons take part in the traditional fall Prosecco DOC harvest celebrations |
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The girls carry the grapes away in baskets before stomping them by foot using the ancient tradition |
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Having picked the grapes, they are poured into wooden barrels |
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Distilleria Bottega’s Sandro Bottega (dressed in black) is surrounded by Compagnia de Calza actors reciting poetry |
The recreation of the farmers’ wine harvest of the old days is a celebration of life and of what the farmers have to offer, according to the wine and grappa producer.
Expanding on the tradition, Bottega added: “The first taste of the must resulting from pressing was reserved for the tenant who, during the entire crop year, was in charge of cultivating the fields and managing the farmhouse.”
After the harvest, the guests enjoyed a typical Italian meal, tasting Bottega’s Il Vino dei Poeti prosecco wine and watching the Compagnia della Calza actors perform a poetry reading dating back to 1700.
During the evening, Prior Roberto Bianchin delivered to Sandro Bottega the Compagnia della Calza banner, to celebrate the 20-year friendship between the Brotherhood and Distilleria Bottega.
A destination for wine lovers
Based in Bibano, in the Prosecco area, 25 miles north of Venice, Distilleria Bottega has been producing award-winning grappas, wines and liquors since the 1970s. The brands are marketed as Bottega and Alexander. Distilleria Bottega sells its products in 110 countries and produces 8 million bottles per year. The range of wines includes Prosecco, Chianti, Moscato, Ripasso, Recioto, Amarone and Brunello di Montalcino.
Its hand-blown Murano glass bottles, made according to the Venetian glass-blowing tradition and part of the Alexander line, are sold worldwide and have won many design awards.
Distilleria Bottega’s Bibano base is a destination for wine lovers, connoisseurs, wine shop and restaurant owners, and receives thousands of visitors every year. Many also come to see the restoration of the farmhouse and the architecture of the production site, where the latest technology is integrated with tradition. The structure includes two original museums, dedicated to the history of grappa and to the design of the Alexander brand.
About Compagnia della Calza
Compagnia della Calza (www.iantichi.org) was founded in 1541 by a group of Venetian nobles: recreated in 1979, today it is made by a group of Venetian actors who organise performances that observe the culture and tradition of Venice, calling upon contributions of renowned scholars and artists. Their keyword is “to entertain while having fun!”
* Distilleria Bottega will be exhibiting at the 2011 TFWA World Exhibition next week (Stand number: Yellow Village A16).
