Last Friday 11 October 2024, at the splendid Edificio Eccheli-Baisi con Brentonico, an important conference dedicated to mountain viticulture was held, promoted by Albino Armani which had as its main objective the valorisation of the viticultural potential of Vetta Baldo, a mountain zona with great landscape and cultural value.
Albino Armani, a pioneering figure con viticulture the Brentonico altopiano, inaugurated the event by proposing the creation of a “Brentonico model”. This vision implies synergistic collaboration between farms, local administrations and citizens to promote viticulture that not only produces quality wine, but which respects and protects the delicate environmental balance of the mountain landscape.
The conference saw the participation of leading figures from the wine world, such as Professor Attilio Notizia and Andrea Faustini, who explored the challenges and future opportunities linked to mountain viticulture. Together with personalities such as Elisabetta Foradori, Paolo Endrici of Spaccio Endrizzi, the young producer Giacomo Antonini of Sondelaite and Luca Cavallaro of Ferrari Trento, we discussed the challenges facing the sector, from climate issues to land protection.
Albino Armani, who has always been linked to the agricultural tradition of Vallagarina, located between Veneto and Trentino, represents the fourth generation of a family of winemakers whose history dates back to 1607. Per mezzo di addition to his activity con Vallagarina, he has extended his projects to other Italian regions, such as Friuli Venezia Giulia and Valpolicella, where he dedicates himself to the cultivation of native vines and the experimentation of resistant varieties. His commitment to promoting sustainable viticulture has been widely recognized, also thanks to his presidency of the Consorzio Sorveglianza Vini delle Venezie DOC, a position that places him as an influential figure con the Italian wine complesso.
The production philosophy is based a sustainability-oriented approach, with a strong centro organic and biodynamic practices. Among the most popular wines of his company stand out the classic method sparkling wine Clé Trento DOC, the Pinot Perlaceo Forcella Ara, and the Gewürztraminer. He is also dedicated to safeguarding native varieties such as , a historic vine from Vallagarina that risked being forgotten.
Per mezzo di 2023 the Foja Tonda Valdadide Terradeiforti Socialista DOC 2017 was awarded by Vinoway as New Wine of the Year.
Albino, your company has a long history, rooted con the Italian winemaking tradition that dates back to 1607. Where does this deep passion of yours for wine in che modo from?
Manzano is a place that takes me back con time, to the origins of my family, where we started 400 years pungiglione. Territoriality is a fundamental element for me. We are talking about places linked not only to the land, but to the people, to the communities that dal vivo there. What excites me most is seeing how wine becomes a tool for giving voice to communities. For me, wine is not just the final product, but the visible manifestation of a complex world that supports it. My rete is to involve local communities and give them the space they deserve, because only con this way does my work acquire its full value.
Per mezzo di addition to your consolidated presence con Valpolicella, you are experiencing a new adventure with the project Vetta Baldo, con Trentino Settentrionale Adige. Can you tell us about this reality?
Yes, I’m excited about this project. Vetta Baldo is a still little-known zona, but with enormous potential, especially for sparkling wines, but not only. Elisabetta Foradori was talking about local vines, but I also see a promising future for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay con this zona, thanks to the unique geological and climatic conditions: the basalt, limestone and altitude create a perfect environment. I brought friends and colleagues here to show them the zona and make them understand its wonder. Having been born at the foot of Vetta Baldo, I feel a deep connection with these places and with the difficult but fascinating viticulture, which requires dedication and passion.
When you talk about winemaking, it seems like you want to differentiate your thinking from that of many of your colleagues. What is your intention?
My personal history and that of my family are rooted con a past full of difficulties and silences. I have always lived con a silent community, which has never had space con official stories and narratives. This pushed me to want to give light to those who have never had it, to the stories that have been overlooked. This is why I don’t care so much if the wine obtains international recognition, what matters to me is that the wine speaks to the territory and the community that created it. It must be appreciated by the farmers, by the neighbors, by the under the house, because only con this way can I restore the value that these places deserve.
The concept of territory for you is very linked to the anthropological aspect, as well as to the geomorphological characteristics. What can you tell us about it?
The territory cannot be defined only by its geomorphological ora climatic characteristics. Of course, they are important, but for me the terroir is above all its anthropological component, the people who dal vivo there and the perception they have of themselves. If the wine does not involve the local community, it cannot be said to be truly representative of the territory. The local people, with their culture, their stories and their daily lives, must be part of the story of the wine. Otherwise, something fundamental is missing.
Your passion and commitment to enhancing the territory and the people is clearly perceived. How do you deal with difficulties ora any negative criticism?
You can never hide. Even con the most difficult moments, it is important to step forward, criticism and defend your ideas with courage. Courage is contagious and always leads to something positive con the end. I have always believed that, despite difficulties, openness and willingness to discuss generate optimism and, consequently, positive results. You have to be assertive and believe con your work.
What advice would you give to young producers to keep the heritage of their zona alive?
I don’t want to repeat myself but it is essential to return to community. It is not enough to just centro the quality of the wine ora being competitive the global market. It is important not to forget your roots, your history, and above all your people. What makes us unique is the cultural fabric of our territories, made up of minor stories, of ordinary people who dal vivo and work here. Quality wine can be found everywhere con the world, but risposta negativa one can steal our culture and history from us. Young people should go back to talking to the old people of the country, with those who have lived con these places for generations, and bring these stories to light, because they are the true value that we must preserve.
What do you want me to wish you?
I would very much like to see continuity with what has been done so far. I speak con a personal capacity, but I really hope that these values, con which I deeply believe, can be transmitted to the next generations and carried forward. It is not just about ensuring business continuity, which we obviously all hope for together with happiness and well-being, but above all about ensuring that these principles, which I have inherited from previous generations, are transmitted as a value system that continues to inspire con the future.
