GG_N54_FR-web

EDITORIAL
SYLVAIN PATARD - EDITOR IN CHIEF
RIVE, THE JEWELS IN PROSECCO’S CROWN
This Italian sparkling wine has won over the hearts,
and palates, of Europe and beyond. Its soft texture,
intense aromas and creamy effervescence offer instant
appeal, not to mention the ease with which it slips
into cocktails.
But there are of course myriad Proseccos, spanning a
range of styles and price brackets. We have chosen to
focus on Rive, which are akin to a superior first growth in
Prosecco and boast DOCG status. The term ‘Rive’ alludes
to the steep hillsides that define the terrain, and it offers
the perfect showcase for the multiple expressions of
Conegliano Valdobbiadene. Rive-labelled wines are often
grown on the steepest and most typical hillsides and
their grapes come from a single village or hamlet within
its boundaries. The aim is to highlight the distinctive
features that terroir can convey to a wine. The appellation
has 43 such Rive, each of them expressing different
characters stemming from the soil, aspect and microclimate
of the site. Other important aspects are yields
– that cannot exceed 13 tonnes per hectare – mandatory
harvesting by hand and a compulsory vintage statement
on the label.
All of these positive attributes are clearly encapsulated in
the bottle. The wines are silky, precise and velvety with a
more complex aromatic structure and a touch of salinity
on the finish that shows clear site-expressiveness. And if
you still have any doubts, go view the selection we have
put together for you in this issue (pages 129-130). You
won’t be disappointed.
6 WINTER 2023 • GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE