Ferrari, `Giulio Ferrari` Riserva del Fondatore

For over a century, Ferrari has made some of Italy’s finest ‘Metodo Classico’ sparkling wines in the Trento DOC. Their enduring reputation for quality, stemming from meticulous grape selection and state-of-the-art winemaking, has ensured that they remain a reference point for the category today.

Founder Giulio Ferrari honed his craft in Champagne before returning to Trento in 1902, at which point the territory was still part of the Austrian Empire. Here, he founded his eponymous winery and began making bottle-fermented wines to compete with the finest champagnes. Having no children to inherit the business, Giulio entrusted his legacy to local wineshop owner Bruno Lunelli in 1952. The Lunelli family has continued Giulio’s legacy in line with Ferrari’s founding principle: to express the singularity of the Trentino territory through exceptional sparkling wines. They currently own 100 hectares of certified organic vineyards within the region, all dedicated to the production of Ferrari’s exceptional wines.

Ferrari focuses primarily on Chardonnay, which Giulio Ferrari introduced to the area, planted on the slopes of the Dolomites, between 300 and 600 meters above sea level. These elevations create significant diurnal temperature variation, giving the grapes aromatic complexity, elegance, and acidity. In addition to the estate’s organic vineyards, Ferrari works with 600 like-minded local grape growers whose sustainability practices align with their own. The estate’s efforts towards maintaining the environment have also led to Ferrari achieving ‘Carbon neutral’ and ‘Biodiversity Friend’ certifications.

Ferrari’s wines are made and bottled in their state-of-the-art winery just outside of Trentino. Across their range, from the ‘Maximum’ non-vintage cuvées to the vintage ‘Giulio Ferrari’ Riserva del Fondatore, Ferrari consistently over-delivers thanks to an uncompromising selection of grapes, attentive winemaking and extended lees ageing. In June 2023, the estate appointed two-time IWC Sparkling Winemaker of the Year, Cyril Brun, as Chef de Cave. Previously at Charles Heidsieck, Aÿ native Cyril brings his vast experience and new perspective to Trento DOC ‘Metodo Classico’ sparkling wines.

The ‘Maximum’ range is made with restaurants in mind, resulting in gastronomic non-vintage wines defined by vibrant acidity and texture. The ‘Maximum’ Blanc de Blancs is made entirely from Chardonnay, while the Rosé blends 70% Pinot Noir with 30% Chardonnay. Both are aged on their lees for at least two years before release, creating significant length on the palate.

The `Perlé` single-vintage Riserva wines are all made using fruit from some of Trento's finest vineyards, each farmed by the Lunelli family. Each is lees aged for over six years, with the `Perlé Nero Riserva being the only Ferrari wine made entirely from Pinot Noir. The `Riserva Lunelli` and `Giulio Ferrari` Riserva del Fondatore are the family’s flagship wines.The ‘Riserva Lunelli’ is made from Chardonnay sourced from Ferrari’s organic estate vineyards around Villa Margon, planted up to 600 metres above sea level. After a period on large Austrian oak casks, the wine is bottled for secondary fermentation and aged for at least six years on lees. `Giulio Ferrari` Riserva del Fondatoreis also made entirely from Chardonnay grown at high elevations. Released only in the best vintages, and after at least ten years of ageing on the lees, it is widely regarded to be one of Italy’s finest ‘Metodo Classico’ wines.