Land shapes culture, giving rise to unique traditions, and people shape the land they inhabit. Nowhere is this more evident than at Le Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene in northeastern Italy. Here, in the chequerboard landscape where rows of vines grow on gentle, grassy slopes, interspersed with rosy-hued villages and thick patches of forest, the Dal Bianco family has harvested grapes under the Masottina label since 1946, on an estate spanning nearly 300 hectares, 86.5 of them certified organic.
With the help of his sons, Federico and Filippo, Adriano Dal Bianco is committed to the continued success and sustainability of the winery business his father, Epifanio, began on the banks of the River Piave as Italy emerged from wartime hardship. The original farmhouse still stands – and the family has embraced its rich oenological customs while focusing on the future.
Federico, Adriano, and Filippo Dal Bianco
To celebrate Masottina’s 75th anniversary, the Dal Bianco family has introduced five special collections of prosecco, each connected to a meaningful place in the territory. The R.D.O. collection (that’s “Rive di Ogliano”) pays tribute to two vineyards in the Ogliano hills with particular soil types and exposure. R.D.O. Extra Dry, who comes from the Levante Vineyards, is recently awarded as the only Prosecco Wines in the prestigious TOP 100 Wines ranking of the year by WineSpectator.
Then there’s the Contrada Granda, named for the ancient town-center from which the Dal Bianco family originally hails: Conegliano. This collection’s cuvée relies on a time-honored technique of blending grapes from different areas of Conegliano Valdobbiadene, imbuing the wines with a range of floral and fruity notes.
The Via Venti collection, which honors Conegliano’s historic thoroughfare Via XX Settembre, features prosecco DOC Treviso from the family’s original estate at Gorgo al Monticano as well as a prosecco rosé made using exquisite Pinot Noir and Glera grapes.
The Calmaggiore line, which includes Brut and Extra Dry versions of a prosecco DOC Treviso, refers to the main street in Treviso’s historic center, linking its Piazza del Duomo and Piazza dei Signori.
And last but not least, the Costabella collection showcases the company’s eco-friendly ambitions and allegiance to local heritage by presenting two takes on superb organic prosecco.
By selecting the best grapes the hills have to offer and combining classic techniques with innovative modern tools, the Dal Bianco family raises a sparkling glass to this remarkable, World Heritage landscape, strengthening the bond between people and territory.
