Region: Emilia-Romagna, Italy (Parma / IGP Emilia)
Grapes: 100% Malvasia di Candia Aromatica
Body: Medium
Notes: Dried apricot, candied orange peel, jasmine blossom, wild honey, sage, toasted almonds, and tea leaves, with a striking, chalky tannic frame, vibrant acidity, and a bone-dry, complex finish
Pairing: Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, continuous charcuterie boards, roasted pork belly, or rich wild mushroom risotto
The Producer
Podere Pradarolo is an uncompromising, highly respected natural estate situated on the sunny slopes above the Ceno Valley in Varano de' Melegari, near Parma. Spearheaded by Alberto Carretti—a former artisan cheesemaker whose deep fascination with natural fermentations led him to viticulture—the estate operates under strict organic and biodynamic principles. Planted primarily with ancient regional grape varieties on clay-limestone soils, the vineyards thrive inside a wild, self-sustaining ecosystem. In the cellar, Alberto practices extreme long-skin macerations and zero-intervention winemaking: using wild yeasts, avoiding temperature controls or additives, adding zero sulfur dioxide, and bottling without fining or filtration.
The Wine
"Vej" is Podere Pradarolo’s benchmark amber wine—an intense, deeply aromatic masterclass in extended skin contact using Malvasia di Candia Aromatica. Hand-harvested from organic vines, the grapes undergo spontaneous wild yeast fermentations and macerate on their skins for anywhere between 30 and 210 days (depending on the specific batch release) in neutral tanks and wooden casks. This prolonged contact transforms the fruit into a glowing amber color, converting its primary floral aromas into a complex, savory matrix of dried stone fruit, orange oil, and botanical tea. Bottled strictly zero-zero, the 2023 vintage masterfully pairs an explosive, heady nose of dried fruits and wild herbs with a gripping, tea-like tannic texture, vibrant natural acidity, and a bone-dry, endlessly long finish.
Region: Emilia-Romagna, Italy (Parma / IGP Emilia)
Grapes: 100% Malvasia di Candia Aromatica
Body: Medium
Notes: Dried apricot, candied orange peel, jasmine blossom, wild honey, sage, toasted almonds, and tea leaves, with a striking, chalky tannic frame, vibrant acidity, and a bone-dry, complex finish
Pairing: Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, continuous charcuterie boards, roasted pork belly, or rich wild mushroom risotto
The Producer
Podere Pradarolo is an uncompromising, highly respected natural estate situated on the sunny slopes above the Ceno Valley in Varano de' Melegari, near Parma. Spearheaded by Alberto Carretti—a former artisan cheesemaker whose deep fascination with natural fermentations led him to viticulture—the estate operates under strict organic and biodynamic principles. Planted primarily with ancient regional grape varieties on clay-limestone soils, the vineyards thrive inside a wild, self-sustaining ecosystem. In the cellar, Alberto practices extreme long-skin macerations and zero-intervention winemaking: using wild yeasts, avoiding temperature controls or additives, adding zero sulfur dioxide, and bottling without fining or filtration.
The Wine
"Vej" is Podere Pradarolo’s benchmark amber wine—an intense, deeply aromatic masterclass in extended skin contact using Malvasia di Candia Aromatica. Hand-harvested from organic vines, the grapes undergo spontaneous wild yeast fermentations and macerate on their skins for anywhere between 30 and 210 days (depending on the specific batch release) in neutral tanks and wooden casks. This prolonged contact transforms the fruit into a glowing amber color, converting its primary floral aromas into a complex, savory matrix of dried stone fruit, orange oil, and botanical tea. Bottled strictly zero-zero, the 2023 vintage masterfully pairs an explosive, heady nose of dried fruits and wild herbs with a gripping, tea-like tannic texture, vibrant natural acidity, and a bone-dry, endlessly long finish.
What is natural wine?
Natural wine is wine made with minimal intervention from the winemaker, using organically or biodynamically grown grapes and without the addition of chemicals or additives such as sulfites. The result is a wine that is unique, expressive, and often has a more complex and nuanced flavor profile than conventional wines. Natural wine is also often associated with sustainable and ethical farming practices, making it a popular choice for those interested in environmentally friendly and socially responsible products.