The lords of Lambrusco: Andrea Ferrari of Monte delle Vigne

I’m sure Andrea Ferrari will not be happy with this definition because his Monte delle Vigne estate goes far beyond the simple production of the great sparkling wine from Emilia. The estate is set in an enchanting landscape on the ‘Rive Droite’ of the Taro River. Andrea began the project in 1983 when he realized that this unique territorial had great potential, with its rolling hills rich in limestone and divided by steep ravines that create an open-air orographic study. He is now a winemaker but his family roots in the land and so he embarked in this this adventure with the farmer inside him confident about the future.

I have known Andrea for years and witnessed all he has done with stubborn determination. I remember the stories he told me about when he started out with just a few vineyards, the first five liters of wine he made, his attempts to sell this wine to the few who appreciated wine that did not claim to be more than it was, rustic and sincere. Then there was his trip to Burgundy, his search for barriques made by the great local producers, and his professional training geared to producing great wine.

Today he has one of the most extraordinary productive realities in the whole district of Parma and his enterprise has been bolstered by a partnership with the great builder Pizzarotti. This has allowed Andrea to continue to experiment and make technical advancements that few can match. He works not only with Lambrusco but also with other great domestic varieties - Malvasia di Candia and Barbera – as well as international ones, those historically cultivated in the area like Merlot and Sauvignon as well as Cabernet Franc and Petit Manseng. The results he achieves in Ozzano are all excellent.

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