Wine is a broad theme, it could be defined as irrepressible because of its many facets: wine tasting, production techniques, geography, history, literature, but also chemistry, geology, service, personalities, companies, areas, terroir.
Those who produce wine are aware that they cannot embrace every aspect of wine at the same time. However, they do know that they can tackle one or more topics with the depth and importance they deserve; and it is precisely on this theme that today we are meeting with someone who has made in-depth analysis their mission: Andrea Fattizzo oenologist and editor.
Andrea, tell us something about yourself and how you got involved with wine?
I would say that wine has always been part of my life: when studying to become an agricultural expert at university, I understood that wine making intrigued me, and so I took a second degree to become an oenologist. From then on, I worked as a wine sales representative and later I opened my own wine shop, after entering the field of “sommelierie” and wine tasting. Then, I started working as an oenologist and wine maker, a job that I am still doing today, and in fact I am also an oenologist for Tenuta Liliana. Finally, 3 years ago I set out on this amazing adventure opening my publishing house: AMPELOS.
Why did I create Ampelos?
Actually, Ampelos was created with the intention of translating and bringing to Italy the French book “THE SECRETS OF GREAT ALCHEMICAL WINES”, an objective that I have not yet achieved, but which, to be honest, I have not given up on! So it was this that started it all: Ampelos was created with the intention of publishing in-depth analyses of wine in Italy.
I could say that the issue of analysis is not really as important as its focus, its depth. In Italy, with some exceptions, there is great devotion to the “romantic” story of wine, but there are no reference texts, technical manuals or essays.
Why become involved with “Wine Culture”, and above all, what does the “Cult of Wine” mean for you?
As a Pay Off of Ampelos, we chose the phrase “READING WINE”: wine as a high-level cultural drink has very important and long-standing literary aspects, we just need to think of the Bible, which appears to have been the world’s first treatise on viticulture and enology. Literature and wine, there has always been a connection between them.
Does Ampelos only publish books dealing with wine, and in particular what aspect of wine?
Any topic that really delves into wine is welcome!
Ampelos has published 5 books to date and another 2 will come out later this year, so we can say that to some extent a way forward has already been outlined. I noticed, in fact, that the publications have already created series that deal with specific themes such as the biographical, historiographic and wine tasting aspects. However, there could always be some outside these series!
Has publishing changed or, in your opinion, will it have to do so in order to communicate with the new generations?
This is a big problem, which I am often thinking about: information has now become just an image, the text is gradually disappearing. Why, I wonder, should a young man read a physical book these days? Unfortunately, I have no answer and no alternative solution either. However, I do believe it is essential to keep up with the times, which is why our publications will also be in an e-book format.
Three final questions:
A book on wine that is “the Book of life”?
I would say the book by Max Leglise “An initiation into the tasting of great wines” that I have recently re-read.
I firmly believe that books convey different things depending on where we are in our life. In this case, realising that an essay on wine from 30 years ago already had so many truths within it, gave me a new perspective.
A book and a wine to go with it for the perfect evening?
Chateau Pavie’s book to read and look at while drinking his wine. The perfect combination of spontaneity and hedonism.
Or else “The Wine Experience” by Gerard Basset: a very intuitive book on wine tasting that I think is perfect when sampling wine.
Which book would you recommend to a new wine lover?
I would recommend “L’esthétique du vin” by Jules Chauvet, which unfortunately is not in Italian. However, it is extremely enlightening, almost disarming, for its simplicity and for its initiatory and metaphysical notions. Although the writer is an oenologist, he conveys the importance of appreciating the beauty of wine in its entirety
interview with Andrea Fattizzo, Winemaker Tenuta Liliana and Editor
