High in the alpine reaches above Trento, Matteo Furlani has earned a reputation as one of Italy's most radical and gifted makers of natural sparkling wine, a true wizard of fermentation in the bottle.
Backstory
A fourth-generation winemaker, Matteo Furlani runs Cantina Furlani in Vigolo Vattaro, in the province of Trento. He began crafting traditional-method sparklers from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in 2008 before moving toward the wild, minimal-intervention frizzante and pet-nat styles that define the house today.
The Region
The estate spans roughly six hectares of tiny parcels set between the slopes of the Vigolana Plateau and the hills overlooking Trento, climbing to altitudes of around 720 meters. At that elevation the cool mountain air keeps the wines taut, fresh and vivid.
Vineyards & Farming
Farming is rooted in biodynamic agriculture, with no pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers. Alongside international varieties such as Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Furlani champions native Trentino grapes including Pavana, Lagarino Bianco and Verdealbara.
Winemaking
The sparkling wines undergo spontaneous fermentation with wild yeasts and carry minimal added sulfites. Many are bottled in the pétillant naturel style, finishing their fermentation in the bottle. His most prized cuvées, the Interrotto Brut Natur and Brut Natur Rosé, use a distinctive Metodo Interrotto, or interrupted method, that departs from classic Champagne production.
The Wines
From the revelatory Sur Lie Alpino to vibrant rosato frizzante and the Interrotto cuvées, Furlani's wines are prized for their unmistakable freshness, energy and depth.
