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#388136 - 01-08-2018 09:38:45 VinePair: Helicopter Harvesting in the Valtelline
TomHill Online   content
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Elvis Has Entered the Building!

Registered: 02-15-2004 17:42:19
Posts: 12126
Loc: LosAlamos
A rather interesting article, if fairly basic, about Nebbiolo in the Valtelline:
Helicopters/Valtelline by StacySlinkard (who she?)
and how NinoNegri is using helicopters to facilitate their grape harvest in those awesomely rugged vnyds. The first photo gives a sense of the heroic viticulture that takes place there. When I walked those vnyds of Balgera, I was mightly impressed. One stumble and you could wind up in the village hundreds of feet below.
The article mentions the Bitto cheese (a DOP cheese) grown in the Valtelline way up in the BittoVlly. It's one my favorite Italian cheeses, as good if not better than Parmigiano for a grating cheese. You almost never find it in this country, alas. A great source in the area is Bottega Fratelli Ciapponi, in Morbegno, recommended to me by EmilioCastelli. They have wheels 10-15 yrs old, aging away in their cellar. Plus it's an outstanding source of Valtelline wines.
She seems to be a big fan of the NinoNegri wines. They also own the (once reknowned) Pellizzatti label. I find those wines rather quotidian expressions of Valtelline Nebbiolo. I find Ar.Pe.Pe, Conti Sertoli Salis, Sandro Fay, Balgera and Triacca, maybe Rainoldi, much more interesting producers.
Anyway, an interesting article that brings back fond memories of my week in the area.
Tom



Edited by TomHill (01-08-2018 09:40:01)

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#388151 - 01-22-2018 10:53:56 Re: VinePair: Helicopter Harvesting in the Valtelline [Re: TomHill]
Roland Dumas Offline
Regular

Registered: 11-19-2003 08:00:00
Posts: 989
Loc: Napa, CA
Must say that when you mention helicopters and vineyards, I wince. We're having a bit of a ruckus in Napa over a wealthy vineyard owner who wants the right to fly his helicopter into his estate to avoid the traffic of the main roads in and out of the valley. Neighbors clearly unhappy. He was denied a license to operate, and is buying off politicians in an attempt to override the denial.

Rich guys want their privilege.

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