Coronavirus conversations: Stefano Gava of Villa Sandi Prosecco

We bring you the latest sparkling wine news from northern Italy, following an exclusive interview with Stefano Gava, who is head winemaker at beacon of sustainable Prosecco production, Villa Sandi.

Stefano Gava (left) with Villa Sandi export manager Flavio Geretto

How has Covid-19 affected viticulture and winemaking operations at Villa Sandi?

Wine business activities including grapegrowing have been deemed essential by the Italian Government, which means that these activities are allowed to continue from last end of March 2020. This has been a crucial positive decision for the wine sector and for Villa Sandi, allowing operation in vineyard to continue and wine to be made to keep businesses viable in future. However, maintaining this status for the sector depends on all businesses ensuring that social distancing and hygiene protocols are in place to protect employees, contractors and other people.

What plans are you making for the 2020 harvesting and winemaking operations?

We are planning some strict safety protocols during harvest, especially on the hills of prosecco where all operation are by hands. Wineries need a COVID-19 manager.

However, maintaining this status for the sector depends on all businesses ensuring that social distancing and hygiene protocols are in place to protect employees, contractors and other people that they need to deal with.

Villa Sandi is strong and resilient. Action taken now will ensure it emerges from the current crisis in even better shape than before.

What are you working on at the moment that is new to the range, and why?

We are working on new wines trying to increase the fresh and fruity notes to give home consumption the typical characteristics of our grapes. As you know the Moretti Polegato family bought also a new wine Estate in Friuli: Borgo Conventi. Some news are coming also from there. We are certifing “Biodiversity Friend” also the vineyards in Friuli and launching a new wine…. But it is a secret for now.

Are you confident about the quality and quantity of the 2020 vintage?

It’s still early to say .. we had a particularly dry early spring and the first rains are coming in these days

What changes are you making to further improve the quality of wines you are making?

We have just finished a new grape reception plant in our Valdobbiadene winery that will halve the transformation time of the grape into must.

What do like to drink at the end of the day?

A glass of our Cartizze La Rivetta!! Cheers.

Stefano Gava is chief winemaker at Villa Sandi, a Prosecco producer he joined in 2006 having completed a degree in Viticultural and Oenological Sciences at the University of Padua. Please click here to find out more about Villa Sandi.