Have you ever tasted a wine that thrilled you so completely and moved you so deeply that you felt compelled, as if by some magnetic force of the earth, to seek out the winemaker and vineyards where it was grown?
After first tasting his wines last year, that’s how I felt about Angiolino Maule and La Biancara, his family’s estate.
Two weeks ago, I called Angiolino out of the blue and asked him if I could bring Tracie P and Alfonso to taste with him (Alfonso arrived yesterday in Italy for the COF2011 project.)
Even though he didn’t know me from Adamo, he agreed to let us come and taste. Before we knew it, there was a sympathia and it didn’t take long to discover that we have a very close and dear friend in common, Veneto jazz great Ruggero Robin.
Angiolino’s wines are simply stunning, literally mind-blowing… We toured his growing sites, tasted, and talked about his new university research projects and his quest to bring hard science into the fold of the Natural wine world. And he revealed some of his breakthroughs in vinification without the addition of sulfites (more on that later).
Although the village is dominated by industrial, commercial winemaking, some of the upper slopes of the township of Gambellara in the province of Vicenza (above) are still blessed by gorgeous vineyards alternated with untamed woods. One of the most intriguing landscapes of my beloved Veneto.
So much to tell, so much to share… but it will just have to wait as Tracie P, Alfonso, and I head out for another day of tasting…
Do Bianchi 
Angiolino Maule was the first Italian winemaker I visited, unfortunately it was with a big group of journalists and we did not have enough time…
J…great teaser of a post…looking forward to hearing more about this wine.
I partially agree with what Jeremy wrote about Gambellara.
Angiolino is living his 50’s and since the time he was young he never met friends producers in Gambellara, since everyone were focus in wine industry.
Gambellara has also one of the biggest private Italian winery, whose name is Zonin.
I have to say that a new generation of young producers (me included) in growing in Gambellara. A generationg very interested in natural wine and overall in wines pure expression of Gambellara terroir.
Since 2003 I visited Angiolino, asking him to help me to go to direction of natural wines (at the time there were not so many counsultants of biodinamic who could help a young to follow the natural idea of wines) but I was several time refused by him.
Everybody knows he has difficult character, probably we are difficult to get in touch since we are similar, both of us are too sincere. But I cannot read that Gambellara is only focus in industrial wines and don’t answer.
I am sorry for my poor English.
Kind regards to all Do Bianchi friends, and when you want to make Do Bianchi, you are welcome in Gambellara.