Ep. 2308 Anna Obuhovskaya IWA interviews Sara Repetto of Vigneti Repetto | Clubhouse Ambassadors’ Corner

It's a story of a returning home. Jam Paulo and Marina, the owners after a life spent in another kind of business. They decided to back to their agriculture roof. So some years ago, they both knew actors of vineyards in this beautiful corner of Piedmont Terre del Tora, and they started this new project, focus on a timurah's variety and Barbera variety. So every time I talk about the story behind the winery. I love to recall this quote by Victor Hugo. Do what trees do. So change your leaves but keep your roof. This is what perfectly represent us as a repeatos. Welcome to the special club house session of the Italian wine podcast. Listen in as members of the Italian wine community engage in fascinating conversations about contemporary wine topics. If you enjoyed the show, please consider donating through Italian Wine podcast dot com, and remember to subscribe and rate the Italian wine podcast wherever you get your pods. Hello, and welcome to Clubhouse the Investors corner. My name is Carla Avanello, and today I'm pleased to welcome Anna Obuchoskaya, and her guest is Sarah Repeto from winery. Welcome, everybody. So, Anna, you are a club house veteran, as we've mentioned. You've been taking us around Italy as you interviewed many different producers, but for those who are listening to Italian One podcast for the first time, would you like to share a few information about your wine a background and yourself. Yes. With pleasure. So I've been, into wine industry for six years. And, mostly, my expertise is in, is a wine retail marketing and sales. I work in a number of bigger wine importing companies and independent projects. I also founded the Italian wine tasting club in San Petersburg in Russia. And in two thousand twenty, I began my journey as Italian wine ambassador. And for the last three years, I'm based in Slovakia. And, currently, I am, leading export development and sales strategies, for wineries at now to illustrate company, which I founded. So this is pretty much it. So my question now is, how did you discover about? Well, we first met at, Vin Italy last year. I cannot believe it it's been just one year ago. Time really flies. But this wine, fair, I mean, Vinitally is such crossroads of, great wine producers and wine professionals and enthusiasts. And, Sarah reached out to me for a taste in which I joined, and I absolutely love the the wines, from the first sip. Nice. So why did you decide to invite Sarah Repeto with us today? Well, being a big fan of Italian whites, I especially cherish, the ones that are, big on structure and deliver a lot more than just freshness. I love those that could accompany a wide range of food and timorasso, a great variety is, long time, my favorite. I think Viniete Peto is doing such a great job on the quality of their wines. And I wanted people to learn more about this producer, and this is why I have chosen her. Amazing. So last question, what are the learning objectives that we should expect from this interview? Well, I would like us to speak today about timorasso grape variety, but also well, it's a it's a variety that comes from the east of Piamanta. It's a lot less known than, Nibiolo, the red grape, And I would like also to cover, to touch a bit more, and discuss particular features that influence the quality of these wines and talk about more of this part of Piamonte, the eastern part of Piamonte. Amazing. I'm very much looking forward to hearing your conversation with Sarah. So I'll now mute myself so you can properly introduce your guest. Well, Sarah is a season one ambassador and expert manager with the case of experience. She's originally from Piedmont, born in Gabby, and she tirelessly travels the world about two hundred days a year promoting Italian wild culture. And as a consultant in expert in marketing, she is also a member of the Donna Delvino association. She is passionate about sharing the stories of native grape varieties, winemakers, and their territories. And their Donna is your great love. Well, my first question would be about the state. And could you please tell us the story behind this state? And, the vineyards. Oh, it's a story of a returning home. Champ Paulo and Marina, the owners after a life spent in another kind of business relating to the mold they decided to back to their agriculture roof. So some years ago, they both knew actors of vineyards in this beautiful corner of Piedmont Terre Dertora, and they started this new project, focus on a team of us variety. And Barbara Barri. Every time I talk about the story behind the winery, I love to recall this quote by Victor Hugo. Do as trees do. So change your leaves but keep your roof. This is what perfectly represent us as, as a repeat of, really. I think this can describe our philosophy. So this is a very interesting explanation, quite an interesting approach. Could you then, tell a bit about your duties in the winery. I know you're a multitask person and, yes, you're here and there. If you are not, expert manager, I would think you are a professional traveler looking at you on Instagram. So what are your duties? Definitely, I'm a professional traveler. This is true. No. I'm a pro on that. And, at the winery, I'm in charge to develop expertise, and I also win them winem Basel for reinterpreto winery. This is my job. I travel a lot at least two hundred days higher or around the world, and I'm really proud to work with Jão Paulo and Marina because they really make great wines, but, the most important things, they are great people. So wine is made by the people for the people. And I feel blessed, every day to have the chance to talk around the world about this story, this wine, to explain it, they repeat the philosophy. I'm really blessed and I'm really happy to make this kind of job. Sometimes it's really, you know, a struggle with many times, slightly, the media stuff. But in the end, meeting new people talk about Italian wise, Italian culture is something that, makes me happy, really. Yeah. Yeah. We have a lot of common, I think not only with me, but also with the people who listen to this interview. We all love Italian wines. That's why we're here in this, podcast. And, Sarah, can you please tell me a little bit more of timorazo. Well, it seems to be the variety that you focus on mostly. How would you describe these wines to someone who has never tasted it before? I adore this gray panel. I love him, Russell. And yes, today, it represents my my main project in my professional life. I can, I can still remember the first time I had a tasting of it many years ago, and it was a kind of, you know, a kind of bomb? It was loved for SIP. Timorazo is the name of the grape. But the name of the wine is Dertona. Dertona is the small capital of the appalachian. It's, the ancient Roman city of Turtona, and the latin name of Turtona is Dertona. And this name is very unscient, but it's still in use today. And it's important to mark this because, great wines are always tied to a land name, such as Barolo Brunllo, and it's the same as Dertora. So timorasta is the grape. Dertora is the wine. Talking about, the variety, what I have to say. I'd like to describe, Timorasso grape as a very, very unique experience. Something that is, unexpected for an Italian white wine. It's a great, elegant, with incredible aging potential variety. Net variety, very peculiar in this little corner of Piedmont, If I have to describe to somebody, never tasted it. Generally speaking, I make this question. Do you like riesling from Mosal, Shanobank, A Firtko from Santorini Shabbi? If they say yes, I'm sure they will love to Marasso because it depends on the moment when you will taste, but this variety as some point in common in terms of, testing note with, resolution and blank, assertico, and chablis. But in, Indiana, is another variety, is a one with a very stronger personality. For sure, it's unforgettable. When you taste it, you will never forget. I'm sure about that. Yeah. That's, that's for sure. I think this is the wine that, fascinates, this is the variety that really fascinates conesars, but also, just one enthusiasts because it's very different. Yeah. It's deep. It's, it has a lot of, power and also great, aging potential. I mean, when you drink it young, it's still pleasant. But being aged, it just gives add so much quality to it. It's one of those amazing, Italian varieties that sometimes beat red grapes in the complexity, in the longevity in, pleasure. I like comparing this grape or this style of wine with, with champagne because it has, both minerality and depth. And depending on the producer, it just shows a quite a different style. So those of you who listen to us and never tasted this great variety before, I think, there's something pleasant for you ahead, some great adventure. Please, find and take advantage. And, returning to questions, I would love to ask, what are the particular features of this area? How, eastern, tortona or Tortona is different from, area of, Barolo or Bar Baresca from, from Long area or, I to P. Manta, what are the particular features of the area. So, Colorado is located south of Piamonte in a little corner bordering liguria from a side, Amelia and Lombardy. The area is an area. We are around the three hundred meters elevation where we have our vineyards at the repair winery. It's a beautiful, beautiful place. And, on the sunny days, you can see both the apps with Monviso, Montebianco on the side, and On the other side, you can see apennines because we are not far away from Geneva also. It's a less than one hour drive, the buoyancy. This soil in, in colored or tree is a very common soil. I'm sure you heard about that. It's a tort toniano soil. And this kind of land dates back nine million years ago. In the past, where nowadays, we have the vineyards that was the sea. So fossil are a common future in our terrarium. Another the specificity of the war is Marne de Santagata originated in this little corner of Kimonte. Santagata is the name of a little village of the Appalachian. And so This kind of soil combined with our microclimate gives quality torturous wine minerality, longevity elegance comparing language area, especially barolo area, We have the same soil, but a little bit different weather because we are more south as a part of the region. And so the water is warmer. We have a lot of sun And especially during wintertime, we receive a wind from the sea side, the ligurian coast. We call it marin, and this win, of course, this, saperity salinity is very beautiful during the cold winter days, January specifically is a is a moment where we feel marine. We have this warm and beautiful weather. So something is in common with language area, but something is completely completely different. So it's really interesting in which factors, influence the quality, the most. For sure, the soil, it makes a big difference. Tortuniano soil is a very elegant kind of a soil for a Forti Moraso that gives longevity and minerality Many times, people ask me, you are by the sea. No. We are not. We are in Piamonte, but you can feel the sea in our glasses of timorasa. This for sure is a very, very important element in our, in our production. Yes. I would agree. I would agree with that. It has a lot of familiarity. It has a lot of this, feeling, on the style. Yes. Absolutely. But it's, quite interesting that I mean, I had a chance to visit the area in January. And, you actually need some, luck to get to see the area because when I arrived, there was, the fog covering the hills. So it was difficult or almost impossible to see the hills, the area, even though I traveled and tried to make my chance to to explore more. I just wasn't lucky with the weather. Did the weather change in Daytona for the last few years? Are there challenges? Any challenges regarding global warming or? The family's a navy from Vermont. I remember the day Yes. It was a foggy day. Honestly speaking, the famous navy are from Vermont. This is true. In the past, yes, we used to have a lot of, fog. But, those almost disappeared. This year, I don't know why. It backs. No. I I know why because we had a very UV season. So we have a navy again in the area. Talking about climate change. This is the great challenge of our time. Tiborazo is a very, very difficult grape to grow, and, struggle with humidity. Generally speaking. This is one of the reason because in the past, it was almost disappeared because the water was completely different in our, in our area. So this climate change at the beginning was not so bad because, the warmer and drier temperatures benefited more. So it found, you know, account of a relief in this, drier condition. But, however, the last vintages, not the last one, twenty four, but, twenty two, twenty three, twenty one. It has been very, very hot. So, not easy. Definitely. And, the main reason was that we the lack of the water, the lack of the rain, on twenty three, we missed the water for three months. Summertime was a kind of desert with a lot of dust. Unbelievable, really, really very odd. So extremely often is not good for Timorazo because Timorazo tends to burn quite easily. So to give you an example, we have started the Evoina excessively filling to provide more shade for the grape clusters. But this year should I think it will be completely different because we had a lot a lot of rain. Those know In the past, Collinetti was a snowy area. I can clearly remember meters of snow. On two thousand twenty four, we just had a half a day, eighth of December of a snow. So nothing. But in terms of, irrigation situation is good because we had a lot of brain. Now it's very important to be precise in the vineyard management. It's very crucial to be open minded and be brave also because, it's not possible. Just complain about the climate change. We can control the climate, but we can control our way of working the in the fields. So it's very important. Be flexible and try to to adapt to this new situation. This is very crucial. Well, thank you for, mentioning that, I think now for the last years, a lot happening, at least what, what winemaker say that, the biggest challenge is, whether to be unexpected because it's either rainfall or frost or something, but at least you never know what's next year would be and what are the new difficulties are out there. Well, I think, anyhow you're lucky with, the hands, in a winery with people with experience and, with the knowledge, what to do and how to maintain the quality in every year. But, what I would like to talk about also besides Timorasa, what are, other varieties you also work with? Could you tell a bit more? Another important variety we grow is Marbera. After all, we are in Piamonte. Seems like, there is a an unwritten rule. If you are one producer in Piamonte, you must produce at least a few bottles of Marvira. And we like Barbera. We drink Barbera. So I I think a pigmentation people as a barbarian the blood. You can find, Barbara all around the region, and also in Collinese. And it's very interesting to see how this grape expressed in different way depending on the area of the region. In call it crazy, interpreter, as this, warm and velvety character is so smooth, soft, is a kind of, hug. And then for sure, we have acidity in our, barbera because it's still barbera, but it's never too aggressive. We produce different style of barbera from the classic stainless steel, and we also produce our subapilation It's Moliale. Moliale is also the name of a smaller villager, nearby tona with more structure, aging, okay. So we like Perebera. We drink Barbara, and we wanna make Barbara really affordable for everybody. It's very democratic. And this pressure in quality for us means wise with a great personality, a lot of fruity note, excellent aging potential. So we base our winery on these two grape on the white side, Nebraska. And for the red one, is Barbera. And which one is more popular? I mean, what is your best seller? So it depends on the country because now their toner is leaving a kind of a gold moment in Italy. Everybody wants their toner, needs their toner, drink their toner. So Italy is, really very interesting market. Abroad, we started to develop export, and we are present, I think, around, twenty eight countries at this time. But we are, for sure, is very popular. Is a very famous variety from the region, a kind of flagship grape from Piamonte. So we we are doing very well with the with both. But back to tomorrow, so the the interesting on this variety is growing quite faster all around the world. Once you're in Piamonte, you definitely eat and drink equally well. And, what are the most typical dishes or products in Eastern Piamonte? I like this question because we like food. We like to discuss about food. We like to discover new food. And Pemonte is a very interesting area for a food culture. But, we are in Italy. So every little corner has something very peculiar, very unique. And the tradition in college or crazy is a little bit different comparing the classic KPMonte. This is a borderland area. And, like all the border areas is rich in different ties, different influences. And the food is a mix of different regional tradition. You know, we are nearby Amelia. Amelia is such a great region for the food, lombardia, liguria. And we have something very, very unique, not just the timorazo, but also some very unique food For example, we have a salami novel the jarolo, the salami called a double because the production is a very limited production nearby mounted jarolo on the up and ninth of call it urgency operation. And here, we don't produce a ham. So all the parts of the pig, even the finest cats are used to make salami, and this is very, very tasty. It's perfectly with our local and Foccaccia is present in the area for the ligurian influence. Another very interesting food is a legendary cheese. The name is, Montebere, and this this tree is made, with cow and the sheep mix. And this is famous also as, leonardo de cheese, because, allegedly that during, Grand D'vilano, is selected for the wedding of, Jangaliases, Forta, and isabella Diaragona. This, she's to celebrate the wedding. This is the reason why the shape of Montevra can remember, wedding cake. It's very tasty. It can age very well. Something to to try. And the area is also very famous for the fruit. We have a Pisca de volcano, pitches from volcano. We'll put this the name of the village. And they are really fragrant with the incredible flavor when you eat fresh in the season, but you can preserve only around if you put in water and sugar. So it's something very very tasty. And then garban Charis. Garbana is a a little town, a manga villager in Italy, and Garbana Chari are the most delicious cherries in the world, definitely. Let me figure, oh, Fragolita Dortona. Fragolita Dortona is, an hybrid between classic strawberry, fragolina, from strawberry, and, wild strawberry. But, it's quite impossible to find the Fragolina de tortona in other parts of Italy because the shelf life is very, very short. That means, twenty four hours. And the season is very short too because, we just have this, amazing fruit in May, two weeks more or less. So please come in May to taste the Fragolino, it's a great experience. The local restaurants use this fluid to prepare some local dishes, so so tasty. And then, last but not least, we have truffles. Everybody know truffle from asthma. Yes. For sure. White truffle from asthma. But call it ortonate the area is very important too because, we have both white and black truffle. And the area has been celebrating truffle for over half a century. So Also, fourth season is the right time to come to VISTA for a for a truffle. Well, it's also it's almost impossible to listen to you, describing all these dishes and not and not having anything to me. Or drink. It's really challenging when you describe all that and just to stay without food. So I guess this is why so having so many specialties in, in Piamonte, I understand and and great wines. Also, I understand why so many, people are attracted to travel. And, when I visited the state, we needed a better state in January. I noticed that you have some facilities for, to stay, overnight or few nights and have a wonderful view on the vineyards. Can you tell is tourism getting more active lately and how this area is attractive for tourists? Besides food and wine, of course. Besides food and wine, yes. We we we have a wine tourism, but not just like that. At our winery. Now we have five rooms. So we have hospitality area. And, we also event, wedding, we can arrange every kind of private event, also for the companies. We also like to have guests. Oh, this is speaking. This is one of the reason because we decided to develop also the side of the business. Back to the area, call it Artoresi is a little unspoiled paradise impetment. The tourism is growing. Not too so fast, but it's growing step by step. The main reason for sure is wine at this time. But come here, if you want to really experience something authentic, The landscapes are stunning. Where you have this seller, you can have a a three sixty, a total view. Sorry. A total view all around the area. There are such a beautiful and touched places, little villages, and the local hospitality is warm as spontaneous. It's it's really it's really authentic and true experience. Please come to visit us. You are more than welcome. Thank you for this invitation. I think after this interview, more and more people would love to come and check out the area. Just because it's so fascinating. Again, speaking from my experience, I did not expect I mean, I love traveling. I love, visiting different corners of Italy, but my trip to Dertona, Tortona in in January was so surprising. I love these little towns and, these beautiful hills. It's just, something very, nice, cozy. You you do eat drink and eat eat well. And, people are so nice and I mean, it's so nice. I would love to be back for sure. And when you recommend your area to foreigners, what are the main things, they should know or visit? Take your time. This is what I recommend. No rush. Take your time. To enjoy the, the slow life, the slow living with a glass of dirt on your end. To enjoy local food, local restaurant, enjoy the time because we run every day. And, we are really too stressed many times. Terre Dertona is the right place to recover the mind to recover the body, to have the sport experience, for example, because, you can like, the Valvolvera Montez. They're very stunning, not just Montejarolo, but Montebro is a very beautiful wild area. To be connected the or reconnecting with the nature. You can also cycle to the land of the legendary fausto copy. Really, you can have a brief of life, a brief of beauty. And if you love art, This land is also very interesting to see because, this fems painter from a Piedmont is a symbol of, divisionism movement and, in volcano, there's a museum in a tortona. We have a splendid pinacoteca. The area is very beautiful. It's really beautiful, and the server visit take your time some days to fully recharge it from, the life. Well, thank you so much. It sounds, even more interesting with all the art possibilities, for sure. And which are there any interesting events for food and wine that you would recommend to visit to maybe some, some fairs, some festivals. We have many, many festival during, all the way around. We are in March. So it's approaching dartona zero in Torortona in the little capital. And, this event is, dedicating to discover Dartona wines. You can meet many local, wine producer And it's very interesting because, it's open to pro for some moment, and it's also open for wine lovers. So it's a it's a great moment to meet this area of a wine producer. It may we have a such a tortona, like, taste their tuna. It's a a food and wine event, in tortona city. And you can taste all the local food and the specialty. Sometimes a year, we have a a vintage market in Tortona. If you like a vintage, I I'm a vintage lover, and she knows. Yeah. Yeah. You you you can find many little treasure from the past and is another good occasion to come and visit the area. And, in, during the fourth season, we have many little truffle firsts. And, also, one of the most historic truffle fair in PMonte is truffles Fair of Sansebastiano Corona. Sansebastiano Corona is, is the name of the of the village, and it's a very, very beautiful place. We just painted house with the ligurian style houses. The historic center is a nice place to have a stroll. And, usually, it's October, November, the moment. And you can buy and taste, white, and, and black truffle. And in Sabasiano Corona, we have the oldest restaurant of pit monteaux. So many, many occasions, and many possibilities to come and visit the area. Yes. Absolutely. It was it was such a great introduction of the area by Usera. Thanks so much. I think, now it's a good time for the questions from the audience. If they would like to ask, something, they can either, write in the chat or, raise a hand, and, I will give will be happy to give them floor. I would have the last, questions question to you then. I'm really curious about the markets, you know. Okay. For wine lovers, it's important to know about grape varieties and the area and the specifics, but to be able to get your hands on some portals. It's even more important. That's why I'm really curious about distribution, but not only for maybe we need to repeato, but also for, for the entire area if you couldn't speak. So what are the main markets, you consider for, timorasso based wines? Now which are main markets now and which ones are in the development or the in the first priority, let's say, first or second priority? In terms of, position, Dertona wine is a premium wine. Sometimes super premium because as for Barolo, they all the vintages, grow in value. So we are really present in, Oregon, restaurant, wine bar in many Michelin store restaurant. It's quite easy to find more than one their tuna on the wine list in the Michelin restaurant. Italy is the main market. At this time, but the Appalachian is growing in, US, Canada, Switzerland, Netherlands, UK, all around Europe, talking about, Asia. You can find their toner in Japan, Korea, Singapore, also in Australia, on the other side of the world. It's possible to find their toner. The traditional market are ready to start with this kind of wine. US is a focus market at this time. And so this more or less is the distribution of the operation. Thank you so much for this talk. I think it was a very interesting good introduction of, Timorazo and, and, and, and, and thank you so much for being so enthusiastic And, please, keep traveling and keep spreading a good word about your home and about the wines that we need to repeat or makes. If there are no questions from the audience, I would love to give the floor to Yes. I'm here. Sarah, if I may ask you, because I know, Anna mentioned right at the beginning that you met during Saint Anthony, if I'm not mistaken, but will you attempt this year too? Yes. We will be at Italy in, all ten PMonte with a collective group of, Pamonte Land. So you are welcome to pass by to say ciao and taste our wines. Yes. I will be in town from Friday. So if you wanna share a bless would be a pleasure. That would be extremely nice, especially because I'm a big fan of Timarasa, so I'm very much looking forward to that. And with this positive note, I think this is a rep. So thank you so much Sara for being enthusiastic. I totally agree with Anna about it. It was a real pleasure to listen to you and your story. And hopefully, I'll see you soon. Thank you so so much. Thank you so much. Thank you to invite me. Appreciate it. Hope to meet you live at the Vin Italy. Thanks a lot. Bye bye. Bye bye. Listen to the Italian wine podcast wherever you get your podcasts. We're on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, them and more. Don't forget to subscribe and rate the show. If you enjoy listening, please consider donating through Italian wine podcast dot com. Any amount helps cover equipment, production, and publication costs. So until next time.