Interview with Pier Paolo Chiasso: Best Italian Winemaker 2022

Pier Paolo Chiasso, skilled oenologist, right-hand guy of Riccardo Cotarella, holds the function of General Director at Famiglia Cotarella and serves as planner for the prominent red wine consultancy business Chiasso & Cotarella.

Throughout 2022, he was granted the title of Best Italian Wine Maker by Vinoway, an acknowledgment that vouches for his amazing competence in the sector.

My affection for him pressed me to ask him some concerns concerning his renowned profession and to dive much deeper into some existing concerns fundamental to the world of red wine.

Pier Paolo, could you inform us how and when you started to be thinking about oenology, what was your preliminary experience and what pressed you to devote yourself to this field?

I matured in a captivating town of 500 individuals situated in the heart of the prominent Orvieto red wine production location. My youth was penetrated by 2 essential aspects: red wine and football. Given that I was a kid, football has actually been my fantastic enthusiasm, a love that has actually accompanied me throughout my life. When it comes to red wine, it ended up being a much deeper interest as I matured and ended up being more detailed to the respected Cotarella household. Being immersed in a context where red wine is an important part of the regional culture has actually excited in me an inherent interest towards this remarkable world.

From a teetotaler to a great wine maker and, if you permit me, likewise a fine-tuned cup. How did this development take place?

Frequently, as a kid and after that as a young boy, the red wine was that of the cellars of his grandparents and uncles, for that reason the faulty one with obvious olfactory and gustatory issues. This very first experience added to making me range myself from the world of red wine, leading me to end up being a teetotaler. Nevertheless, luck smiled on me when I started to regular environments where the red wine served at the table was the outcome of viticulture and oenology assisted by science and experience. In this context, I had the chance to find an entirely various side of the red wine world, where look after quality and attention to production were outright top priorities. My previous hostility to red wine, coming from experience with problematic white wines, has actually changed into a brand-new viewpoint. I comprehended that my abstaining and my absence of familiarity with the problems of red wine might end up being a benefit, establishing a specific tasting level of sensitivity. This course enabled me to value red wine in an entirely various light, changing my abstaining into a strength that assisted establish a higher level of sensitivity towards the subtleties and qualities of red wine.

If you needed to recognize the most substantial mentor you got from Dr. Riccardo Cotarella, what would it be?

In a word, whatever is thanks to him, to his genuine belief in me. Every day, for thirty years now, I continue to gain from him. The most valuable lesson that he transfers to me is to never ever stop, to constantly go even more. He teaches me that there is constantly something more to find, to discover which constant development is necessary for lasting success.

Is environment modification impacting the taste and taste of red wine?

Environment modification, in spite of its unfavorable effect on a worldwide scale, has actually had a favorable result on Italian red wine production. This phenomenon has actually added to a consistent enhancement of Italian white wines, leading them to get significantly prevalent acknowledgment worldwide. The “brand-new” environment has actually played a crucial function in the development of the sensorial qualities of white wines, providing a remarkable taste and strength compared to the past.

What are the brand-new requirements needed by the market?

The red wine market is inherently vibrant and based on constant modifications, highly affected by the surrounding context. All issues impact intake in an unfavorable sense, when the issues are fixed in a favorable sense. Regardless of this, customer requires stay continuous in time. Today, more than ever, they are searching for genuine and “genuine” white wines that have the ability to inform the stories of the vines and the areas in which they are grown. This element handles a main function compared to conventional qualities such as the color (white or red) or the structure of the red wine (light or structured). The propensity to look for credibility shows a growing customer awareness of sustainability, the origin of items and the valorization of regional customs.

Can you quickly discuss the significant distinction in between native yeasts and chosen yeasts?

The function of the oenologist is to direct and govern the procedure of changing grapes into red wine. With chosen yeasts you do it by keeping your hands securely on the wheel, with native yeasts you do it with your hands hectic doing other things. In the latter case the possibilities of going off roadway are rather high.

So we can actually assert that chosen yeasts can not definitely authorize the red wine, is that right?

The chosen yeasts, the terroir, the environment, the management of guy imply that all the white wines are various from each other. Constantly.

The Chiasso & Cotarella Business today has 103 consultancies with customers of the greatest level and world-famous. What are the requirements to gain from your competence?

We do not search for any requirements, we deal with individuals, manufacturers who have concepts, who propose efforts, who wish to get included. In this case we are here with all the interest and all the experience that might be required.