Every Friday TheChampagneSommelier will ask 5 questions about 5 coeur de bouteilles to friends and Champagne lovers from near and far. This Week we took a bubbly chat with champagne lover Chiara Soldati – CEO of La Scolca. Merci Chiara !
BIO
Chiara Soldati
CEO of La Scolca. La Scolca was founded in 1919 in the Gavi area, here my family immediately decided to focus on the native vine of the place, Cortese, with the aim of creating a Piedmontese white wine able of competing with the great whites of the world. Since the 1970s we have been exporting all over the world and in the 1990s we decided to interpret the sparkling vocation of the Cortese grape, giving life to a Classic Method that ages for ten years sur lie. Given the success we have obtained, we decided to continue our commitment in the production of sparkling wines by adding further products to the range of sparkling wines and a rosé, La Scolca D’Antan Rosè, which combines the Cortese grape with a percentage of Pinot Noir, 3/5%. depending on the vintage. I believe that the art of the winemaker resides in the production of classic and champenoise methods; starting from an excellent product in the vineyard it is the craftsmanship of the producer that deliver us great bottles that are not afraid of time.
Which Champagne would You treat your parents or in-laws?
‘Bruno Paillard, Blanc de Blanc 2012. As a family we have always loved the aging potential of sparkling wines. We were among the first in Italy to focus on this aspect also for our wines and we are convinced that our country is obtaining important results in this sense.’
Which Champagne would You treat your lover?
‘Billecart Salmon-Elisabeth Salmon Brut Rose 2008. Its refinement and elegance bring it as close as possible to the concept of a noble feeling like love. Sensuality and charm for a champagne that conquers you at the first glass and never disappoints. A love at first sight capable of enduring over time.’
Which Champagne would You treat your boss?
‘A champagne that I have not yet had the good fortune to taste, because I am convinced that the success of our work lies in curiosity, I must never stop experimenting, getting to know new realities. ‘
Which Champagne would You treat yourself?
‘Champagne Extra Brut Grand Cru Blanc De Blancs “Mycorhize” – De Sousa. This champagne comes from an old parcel of Avize, the first that Eric converted to biodynamic in 1999. De Sousa is certified Agricolture Biologique and its wines are proof that great champagnes can be made by conducting the vineyard in full respect of nature. It is a challenge that we have always carried out in taking care of our vineyards and it is a theme that I feel mine. The land we cultivate has been loaned to us and we have to give it back better than we found it .’
Which Champagne would You treat a dream guest, and why?
‘Champagne Brut L’avatique by Mouzon Leorux and I would drink it with Bob Dylan. Both are characterized by the courage to break the mold. Bod Dylan has been able to tell our era with poetry, posing important challenges to us.’
[ what piece of music would you listen to drinking wine with Your dream guest ?]
‘Given the guest, the song is inevitably one of his masterpieces, “Blowin in the Wind”. Our hills are blown by the wind every day and in our wines we try to tell about that wind coming from the Ligurian Sea that takes care of the Cortese’s vineyards. The wind is in the DNA of our country.‘
