Contra' Soarda

San Michele di Bassano del Grappa, Veneto, Italy Mirco and Gloria Gottardi established Contra’ Soarda in 2002 with the desire to create a deeper tie to their native land. Contra’ Soarda, which means “hamlet on the slope,” grows both vines and olive trees with an equal respect for the environment. Mirco and Gloria have a strong attachment to the land and set out purposefully to create an ideal vineyard and winery. In their state-of-the-art facility, the couple emphasizes environmentally conscious methods. They are in the vineyards every day, working now with their son and daughter, cultivating grapes and olives, just doing what they love. The vineyards are situated on a picturesque 12 hectares just outside of the town of Bassano del Grappa, about 86 kilometers northwest of Venezia, in the Veneto. This village, made famous for its distinctive distilled spirit, sits at the mouth of the Valsugana, an extinct volcano. The entire wine region sits in the mountain’s valley and is composed of volcanic ash and rocky soils. The dramatic mountains in this “pre-Alp” region moderate the temperatures during the day and sustain the cool air at night. The vines are densely planted to insure naturally low yields. The eco-friendly cellar is built inside the hill to minimize any environmental impact; it is an architectural wonder and has received many prizes. This is an estate that will always focus on the often overlooked native grape, Vespaiolo, while also cultivating the varieties that have been planted in his region for centuries, such as Marzemino. Mirco and Gloria produce wines that are pure, elegant, and harmonious.