Carolina Gatti La Bolla del Fugazi NV

Carolina Gatti stands as one of Veneto's most distinctive natural wine producers, crafting uncompromising wines from her family's estate in Ponte di Piave near Treviso. The farm has been in the Gatti family since the late 1800s, but Carolina brought a radical new vision when she took the reins. With her ever-changing hair colors—flamingo pink, electric green, smurf blue—and boundless energy, she represents a new generation of Italian vignerons challenging the industrialized status quo of the Prosecco region.

Carolina graduated with an oenology degree in 2012, writing her dissertation on Raboso del Piave, a rare local variety characterized by sharp acidity that she champions passionately. Her dedication to this unfashionable grape runs so deep that she named her blog "Rabosando." This combination of formal training and rebel spirit defines her approach.

The estate spans approximately 5 hectares, with some vines over 80 years old trained using the traditional belussera trellising system—an almost extinct method requiring rigorous manual labor but yielding exceptional quality. Carolina works alongside her father, Lorenzo, mother, Renata, and brother, Lino, maintaining a self-sufficient farm that raises free-range livestock for meat and manure. The organic fertilizer feeds the vineyards, while grains and cereals grow alongside the vines.

In the cellar, Carolina ferments exclusively with indigenous yeasts in concrete vats, avoiding additives, fining, and filtration. Her most iconic wine, Bolle Corsare (Pirate Bubbles), deliberately rejects official Prosecco recognition—a fact she wears as a badge of honor. The portfolio includes orange wines from Verduzzo, rosato from Raboso, and red frizzante blends, each expressing the authentic character of her terroir.

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Veneto ranks as Italy's largest wine-producing region by volume, stretching across northeastern Italy from Lake Garda to the Adriatic coast and north to the Dolomite foothills. The region encompasses dramatically varied landscapes—alpine valleys, rolling hills, and flat plains—each supporting distinct viticultural traditions. Approximately 90,000 hectares of vineyards produce wines ranging from everyday table wines to some of Italy's most celebrated bottles.

The region divides into several key zones. Valpolicella lies northwest of Verona, where Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella grapes produce the area's signature red wines, including Amarone della Valpolicella—made from partially dried grapes in the appassimento method. Soave, east of Verona, centers on Garganega grown on volcanic soils, yielding whites with mineral depth and almond notes. The Prosecco zones of Conegliano-Valdobbiadene in the hills and the broader Prosecco DOC on the plains have made Glera Italy's most exported sparkling wine.

Veneto's climate benefits from moderating influences: Lake Garda tempers western areas, Adriatic breezes cool the eastern plains, and alpine air flows through northern valleys. Soils vary from volcanic basalt in Soave to limestone and clay in Valpolicella to alluvial deposits on the plains. This diversity allows cultivation of both indigenous varieties and international grapes.

Natural winemaking has gained ground in Veneto, with producers questioning the region's industrial reputation. Small estates in Valpolicella, Soave, and the Colli Euganei work organically, fermenting with native yeasts and minimizing sulfur additions. These winemakers demonstrate that Veneto's terroir, when respected rather than manipulated, produces wines of genuine character.

Beyond the famous names, Veneto offers discoveries: Bardolino reds from Lake Garda's eastern shore, Breganze wines from volcanic foothills, and Custoza whites from morainic soils. Explore Italian wines among our natural wine best sellers and browse the complete Italian collection.