Living wine legend Elisabetta Fagiuoli (80+) still shines at fairs and tastings worldwide. What is the secret of her zest for life?
Tuscan diners have probably had a vernaccia with their pasta or frutti di mare. But yours have so much more character...
'I see Vernaccia di San Gimignano as the red wine among white wines, and I like to let mine age. I made my first Vernaccia in 1984 and I now make three different ones. In addition, two blends, a rosé (also a personal favourite, but unfortunately always sold out quickly - KL) and five red wines, all from local grape varieties. I came to Tuscany in 1965 and started making red Chianti. My family made wine in Custoza, Valpolicella, and I thought Tuscany - famous for its reds - was not suitable for white wine. But thanks in part to the chalky soil in San Gimignano, it actually works very well. At the time, people often copied white wines from northern Italy, but I wanted to make my own style of wine, from my soils, from my land.'
And you never spit out wine?
'Nooooo, never! If a wine smells good - my nose still works fine - I drink it. Preferably in the morning, that's when I like drinking best.'
Read the whole interview and more in #WINELIFE#59. Click here and order!
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