Venissa and the rediscovered grape - Dorona
This summer vacation we went to Verona. I heard about an island near Venice with an ancient grape and a beautiful vineyard surrounded by water. The Mazzorbo island is connected with a footbridge to the Murano island and the vineyards are just a few steps away. We took the Vaporetto from Jesolo Treporti and 15 minutes later we came ashore.
Before visiting the vineyard I started a little investigation and contacted Gianluca Bisol. Venissa is the perfect example of a walled vineyard and surrounded by water on three of the four sides. It was restored by the Bisol family (producers of some of Italy’s most prestigious Proseccos), and in it grows the Dorona di Venezia variety, native to the Venetian Lagoon and cultivated for centuries until nearly becoming extinct after the big flood of 1966. For over 500 years, the Bisol family produces wine in the hills of the Valdobbiadene area, about an hour north of Venice.
Nowadays, the Bisol family produces about 4.000 bottles per year of Venissa with this rediscovered grape. The golden Dorona grape is one of the most sought-after wines in the world. It’s a very unique wine which reflects the typical notes of this lagoon.
The winemakers prefers a long maceration on the skins, to obtain a white wine with the structure and longevity of a red. From the skins, the Venissa wine extracts the flavors and unique aromas typical of this one of a kind terroir.
The bottle alone is unique, with a label with a pure gold label. And the wine suits perfect with the label.
Venissa – Bianco
The wine shows a beautiful golden color with amber reflections.
On the nose orange peel, peach, honey and sherry hints with, flowers and sweet licorice.
On the palate well balanced and good interaction between the acidity and velvet taste. Flavours of honey, nuts, peach and saltiness. a unique wine and I have never tasted something similar. Some will like it and some will dislike it. For me this was an great experience to taste this wine from this unique grape.
There is also a Venissa Rosso, cultivated on the nearby island of Santa Cristina. Mainly Merlot with a splash of Cabernet. The wine has an intense red color with violet reflections. Shame I didn’t taste this one at the One MICHELIN star refined cuisine. Thanx Matteo Bisol for having us.