Cala Silente: the essence of Sardinian Vermentino

Cala Silente: the essence of Sardinian Vermentino

Cala Silente: The Essence of Sardinian Vermentino

Cala Silente is a distinguished white wine from Sardinia, Italy. It is crafted by the renowned Cantina Santadi winery. This wine is a 100% Vermentino di Sardegna DOC. It truly showcases the potential of Sardinia’s signature white grape. Its taste captures the unique spirit of its Mediterranean origin.

From the Heart of Sulcis, Sardinia

Cantina Santadi is located in the Sulcis district of southwestern Sardinia. The winery was founded in 1960 in the town of Santadi. In 2025, it proudly marks its 65th anniversary. The cooperative is a standard-bearer for quality Sardinian wine.

Unique terroir:  Their Cala Silente (“Silent Cove”) perfectly expresses this unique terroir. Vineyards in Sulcis benefit from a coastal climate. Summers are warm and dry, while winters remain mild.

The grapes grow in sandy and clay-loam soils. This specific soil composition gives the wine its distinct character.

Cala Silente: the essence of Sardinian Vermentino
Cala Silente: the essence of Sardinian Vermentino

Winemaking Process

The winemaking for Cala Silente is meticulous. The grapes are carefully selected Vermentino. They are harvested in early September in Sardinia. The grapes undergo a gentle pressing. Fermentation happens in cool stainless steel tanks. This process preserves the wine’s delicate fruit aromas. The wine then ages on its lees. This technique adds complexity, structure, and a richer mouthfeel.

Tasting Profile

-Appearance: Cala Silente shows a brilliant straw yellow color. It has subtle greenish-gold reflections.

-Aroma: The nose is intense and inviting. It offers a bouquet of fresh fruit aromas. You will notice crisp green apple, ripe peach, and zesty citrus. Hints of flowers and Sardinian minerality complete the scent.

–Palate: The palate is both elegant and full-bodied. It balances fresh acidity with a pleasing roundness. Flavors of stone fruit and citrus carry through. A characteristic saline note points to its coastal Sardinian origin. The finish is long, persistent, and refreshing.

Food Pairing Suggestions:  Cala Silente is a versatile wine for food pairing. Its crispness is perfect for rich seafood and shellfish. This makes it a classic pairing choice. The wine also complements flavorful white meats and poultry. Try it with pasta dishes using vegetable or light cream sauces. For a true taste of Sardinia, pair it with local food. Enjoy it with Sardinian specialties like fregola with clams or grilled sea bass.

Cala Silente: the essence of Sardinian Vermentino
Cala Silente: the essence of Sardinian Vermentino

Each bottle of Cala Silente captures the spirit of Sardinia. It is a true reflection of its sunny Sulcis terroir. Cantina Santadi showcases the elegant potential of the Vermentino grape from this unique part of Italy.

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles

The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is a prestigious international competition, established in 1994, known for its rigorous standards and commitment to identifying the world’s finest wines and spirits. Split into various sessions and selections throughout the year, it evaluates over 15,000 entries annually. An exclusively professional tasting panel ensures a blind tasting process focused solely on quality, making the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles a globally recognized benchmark for excellence in wine and spirits. 

Italy delivered an exceptional performance during the 32nd edition of the prestigious Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. With a total of 351 awards, the country confirmed its top position in the wine world. The Italian wines were decorated with 15 Grand Gold Medals, 132 Gold Medals, and 204 Silver Medals.

This year, the competition for red and white wines took place from June 10 to 12, 2025, in Yinchuan, the heart of China’s Ningxia wine region. An international jury of 375 experts blind-tasted over 7,165 wines. These wines came from 49 different countries, highlighting the global scale of the event.

The Cala Silente 2024 from Cantina di Santadi got a gold medal at this competition.

For more information about the winery, take a look at their website:

Website Cantina di Santadi

Gold for Masottina

Masottina awards
Masottina awards

EnoConegliano Wine Competition

Masottina received one gold and 2 bronze awards by the EnoConegliano wine competition that celebrates the wine-winery excellence of the Veneto territory.

The competition is organized by the “Associazione Dama Castellana di Conegliano”. The judging takes place in Conegliano, a city renowned as one of the capitals of Prosecco production.

EnoConegliano is a prestigious regional wine competition focused on selecting the best wines from the Veneto region of Italy. It is an officially recognized competition, authorized by the Italian Ministry of Agricultural and Forestry Policies, which marks it as a significant and official event in the Italian wine industry.

Masottina award

Purpose of the Competition

The main objective of the competition is twofold:

  1. Promotion: To highlight the finest wines of the Veneto region to consumers, both nationally and internationally.
  2. Quality Improvement: To encourage wine producers to continuously enhance the quality of their products.

Which Wines Can Participate?

Only wines with an official designation of origin from the Veneto region are eligible to enter. These include:

*DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata)

*DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita)

*IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica)

*Quality Sparkling Wines

VIAVENTI PROSECCO EXTRA BRUT DOC TREVISO

This wine comes from a single vineyard at Gorgo al Monticano, on the historic estate of the Dal Bianco family, where business began in 1946. A dry wine with a clear, lingering finish whose amazing elegance reveals an intriguing structure. It is made of grapes selected on the vine and in the winery, white vinified by the gravity method.

AI PALAZZI CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Often used with Merlot to subdue its softness, this version is vinified as a single variety to highlight its distinctive characteristics and to pay homage to Veneto’s oenological tradition, of which it has always been a part.

Extremely drinkable and fresh, its lush tannins entice into another sip.

Matures for at least 18 months, partly in Slavonian oak barrels and partly in French barriques that infuse pleasant hints of vanilla and cinnamon.

Masottina award
Masottina award

VIAVENTI PROSECCO ROSÉ BRUT DOC TREVISO

This wine blends the elegance of Pinot Noir and the versatility of Glera. The Glera grapes are white vinified, and the Pinot Noir red vinified, after brief pre-fermentation maceration of 24 – 36 hours. The two base wines are then blended before prise de mousse, which takes place on selected yeasts for at least ninety days. The wine ages in bottle for a month before distribution.

Masottina: A Legacy of Prosecco Woven into the Hills of Conegliano Valdobbiadene

Story: Nestled in the heart of the picturesque Veneto region, Masottina represents a story of family passion, a deep connection to the land, and an unwavering commitment to quality in the world of Prosecco. For over seven decades, the Dal Bianco family has been the driving force behind this esteemed winery, transforming a modest post-war estate into an internationally recognized symbol of Italian sparkling wine excellence.

Ai Palazzi Estate: The winery’s origins trace back to 1946 when patriarch Epifanio Dal Bianco acquired the Ai Palazzi estate in Gorgo al Monticano. It was during the restoration of the farmhouse that a hidden inscription, “Casa Masottina,” was discovered, bestowing the burgeoning enterprise with its enduring name. From these humble beginnings, a legacy was born, one that would be meticulously nurtured by succeeding generations.

Unesco World Heritage: The family’s vision has led to the expansion of their vineyards to encompass nearly 300 hectares. These carefully tended plots are strategically located across the prestigious Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the fertile plains of the Piave River.

Rive di Ogliano: This deep-rooted connection to the territory is at the core of Masottina’s winemaking philosophy. The winery is particularly renowned for its work in the unique micro-terroir of the “Rive di Ogliano.” The term “Rive” designates wines crafted from grapes grown on the steepest, most challenging hillsides, a practice that yields fruit of exceptional character and complexity. Masottina’s “R.D.O.” collection, which has garnered international acclaim, is a testament to the family’s dedication to expressing the distinct soul of this special cru.

Awards Masottina

From the sun-drenched slopes of the Rive to the state-of-the-art cellar, Masottina is a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity.

It is a wonderful story of a family’s enduring love for their land, their relentless pursuit of quality, and their desire to capture the essence of one of Italy’s most celebrated wine regions in every bottle.

Gold for Grati’s Olive Oil

Gold for Grati's Olive Oil

Fratelli Grati's Olive Oil, honoured with a gold award

Gold for Grati's Olive Oil

Fratelli Grati: A Family Tradition in the Heart of Tuscany

Nestled in the Tuscan countryside, this family-run estate is dedicated to producing exceptional wines and olive oil that honor their land and heritage.

Tuscan Wines, Rich in Character

From the historic estates—Galiga, Vetrice – they cultivate native grape varieties like Sangiovese, Colorino, and Canaiolo. Each bottle reflects their dedication to quality, expressing the vibrant terroir and timeless spirit of Chianti Rufina.

Award-Winning Olive Oil

Their extra virgin olive oil is a true taste of Tuscany: fruity, peppery, and beautifully balanced. Produced with a blend of tradition and innovation, it’s internationally celebrated for its purity and flavor—perfect for elevating any dish.

Oliviers & Co

Grati: award winning olive oil

Fratelli Grati’s extra virgin olive oil, crafted in the hills of Chianti Rufina, has earned international recognition for its purity and flavor. In France, it is proudly imported and distributed by Oliviers & Co, a renowned curator of the finest Mediterranean olive oils. Among their rigorous annual selection—where only a handful of oils are chosen from hundreds of artisanal producers—Grati’s olive oil stands out as one of the very best, celebrated for its vibrant character, impeccable freshness, and authentic Tuscan soul.

Global Recognition at the NYIOOC

Fratelli Grati’s extra virgin olive oil was honored at the NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, the most prestigious international contest dedicated to olive oil quality. Held annually in New York, the NYIOOC brings together producers from over 30 countries, with thousands of entries judged by a panel of expert tasters. In the 2025 edition, Grati’s olive oil stood out among hundreds of submissions, earning a Gold Award for its exceptional flavor, purity, and craftsmanship. 

Gold for Grati's Olive Oil

Why is the NYIOOC an important recognition?

The NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition is the most prestigious international competition for olive oil quality, where thousands of entries from over 30 countries are judged. Winning a Gold Award here places Fratelli Grati among the world’s elite olive oil producers!

Gold for Grati's Olive Oil

What makes Fratelli Grati olive oil so special?

The oil is celebrated for its pure taste, vibrant character, impeccable freshness, and authentic Tuscan soul, derived from the traditional olive varieties Frantoio, Moraiolo, and Pendolino.”

Gold for Grati's olive oil

For more information about Grati, their wines, olive oil and events they organize, take a look at their Facebook page or at the website: 

WEBSITE GRATI WINERY
FACEBOOK GRATI WINERY
Gold for Grati's Olive Oil

Masottina’s award winning Prosecco

Masottina R.D.O. Levante

Masottina’s flagship Prosecco, the R.D.O. Levante 2024, has been honored with the prestigious Corona award by the ViniBuoni d’Italia 2026 guide.
Recognized as one of the best Italian sparkling wines after a tasting of over 30,000 entries, this Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG has also secured a coveted spot in the national TOP 300 finals.

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Awards for Villa di Vetrice

Villa di Vetrice

Awards for Villa di Vetrice: their Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina 2005 has been awarded with a  Gold Medal, Best of class at the Los Angeles Wine Competition 2025.

Gold Medal

Best of Class

Points
0

Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina
A masterpiece where freshness and elegance  are combined with a thick mouthfeel

Fresh, focused and elegantly open with a thick and exqui­site mouth-feel. 
On the palate it shows harmonious, with oil, toffee, walnut, leather, caramel and dried apricot character. Dried fig and orange peel accents lead to an everlasting finish.

Well-known the perfect combination with cantucci (traditional almond biscuits from Tuscany) but very good also with other (nut based) cakes, liver-pate dishes and complex cheeses. thanks to its multiple layers, long finish, acidity and good structure.

Villa di Vetrice

Herebelow the list of all winners. You can find Villa di Vetrice’s in Santo on page 10.

Results Los Angeles Wine Competition 2025
How is the Vin Santo made? 

The vinsantaio, where vinsanto is made, hangs full of grape bunches, quite appropriately above the family chapel at Villa Vetrice, as ‘vinsanto or vino santo‘ means ‘holy wine’.

In the Grati family, it is a tradition that began over a hundred years ago, with which the great secret of vinsanto, the madre (mother), is also over a century old.

The madre is an aromatic sediment of inactive fine lees. She, a natural yeast, is ‘eterna’, for ever, because each new production uses some of the old that has multiplied at the end of the process and is then kept again.

Healthy bunches of grapes were picked in mid-September, and hung in the vinsantaio to slowly dry out for over three months.
70% of the grapes are white, Malvasia and Trebbiano, 30% are blue, Sangiovese.
Vinsanto is made only in years with extremely healthy grape material.
Sulfur is lit daily in the vinsantaio to clean the air of insects and unwanted critters. There is also the game of windows, which are open during the day and closed again at night, depending on the weather. The grapes have to dry properly and slowly. As an extra help, only if needed, ventilators can be used.

 

Villa di Vetrice: Vinsantaia

In December or January, when 30% of the original volume remains, the grapes are pressed. The must is then put into clean caratelli, small wooden barrels, on top of the madre. The caratelli are then sealed with cement, while 25% of the space remains empty.
Fermentation starts slowly in March, while temperatures rise and stops with the heat in summer. For three years in a row.  In winter, spontaneous clarification takes place, including the deposition of the madre.
The wine then remains in the unopened caratelli for at least ten years before being bottled.
Villa di Vetrice Vinsanto del Chianti Rùfina DOC comes with 17% alcohol and 100% class.

Villa di Vetrice: caratelli per vinsanto

Discover the other wines of Villa di Vetrice: Chianti Rufina and Chianti Rufina Riserva.

Take a look at their Facebook page

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