The Bolla family: Nearly a century of superb Prosecco in the Valdobbiadene

By Dwight Casimere

Valdo is the oldest winery to produce Prosecco in Italy’s famed Valdobbiadene, the home of that country’s celebrated sparkling wine. For nearly a century, the Bolla family has used its commitment to tradition, the region, and the land to produce one of the most trusted labels in Prosecco.

Matteo Bolla, Business Development Manager for Valdo USA, Inc. is the third generation of the Bolla family. His mission is to further enhance the presence of Valdo and expand its acceptance in the US market. Carefully crafted wines created from a precise selection of grapes from the most prestigious areas of the territory make his job easy.

In furtherance of those efforts, the renowned Prosecco brand has expanded its communications program by naming Colangelo and Partners, the leader in integrated communications in the wine and spirits sector, as its Agency of Record.

Family, a sense of place and Valdo’s winemaking philosophy.

A brief look at the history of Valdo provides a glimpse of its firm roots in the territory. Founded in 1926 by the Societa Anonima Vini Superiori, Valdo was purchased by the Bolla family in 1938. Thus began an ongoing quest for quality that continues today.

“My grandfather, Sergio Bolla, was a visionary,” Matteo began. “He launched the Bolla name in the United States in the 1950s.

“Back in the day,” Matteo elaborated, “in New York, it was said that Frank Sinatra would not sit at a table in a restaurant unless there was a bottle of Bolla wine put on the table.”

“Valdo is short for the name of the region, Vadobbiadene. Sergio Bolla wanted to make his Prosecco more accessible and easier to understsand, so he shortened the name to Valdo so that people could recognize it easily and remember it.

“He took Valdo to the next level in terms of exploring new production methods and standards. He became an ambassador for increasing awareness of Valdo and Prosecco in the world.

Prosecco is a protected wine of distinction

“Prosecco is made in Italy, just like Champagne is made in France,” he explained further. “A lot of people have become confused because so many people have seen the name used on labels from producers that have nothing to do with real
Prosecco.”

The Consortiums protect Valdobbiadene Prosecco for Prosecco Superiore DOCG and Prosecco DOC. The name Valdo is derived from the Veneto region’s Valdobbiadene hills, that are a UNESCO World Heritage site that produces some of the most elegant and refined sparkling wines in the world.

“The hills are so steep, that everything is done by hand. No harvest machinery could possibly scale its heights. We call our grape growers ‘heroic viticulturists.’”

The most expensive Prosecco comes from the highest elevation. “Cartizze is at the top of the Prosecco Superiore DOCG quality pyramid and is also the highest and steepest point of the Valdobbiadene.” The Consorzio has recently introduced the Rive delimitation, which is named after the sub-zones with distinct, high-quality terroirs.

The current President and CEO of Valdo is Pierluigi Bolla. “He is my uncle. Pierluigi really gives a strong contribution to the development of the winery and the distribution of the wine worldwide. His focus is on expanding sales both in Italy and abroad, with the aim of increasing the awareness of Prosecco and Valdo.”

Prosecco is made primarily from the Glera grape, which is native to the Valdobbiadene. “Eighty-five percent of the wine must be made from the Glera grape by law,” Matteo emphasized. “The rest of the blend can come from either native, local grapes like Bianchetta, or international grapes like Chardonnay.”

Valdo excellence is controlled from the vine to the bottle

Valdo ensures its production of top-quality sparkling wines by controlling the entire production process from the vineyard to the bottle. The results are evident in every glass.

Valdo has also embraced the theme of environmental sustainability. Every aspect of production is designed to safeguard the planet for future generations. The installation of a new photovoltaic system at one of the production sites will cover 70% of the company’s energy requirements for the year.

Valdo flagship wines

-Valdo Marca d’ Oro DOC Brut ($18)-With its delightful aromatic fruity fragrance and fine dancing bubbles, you might easily confuse this lively sparkler with one of Valdo’s pricier editions. Yet, here is an easy-to-drink sparkling wine with aromatic fruit and perfect balance that makes seafood dishes like Giant Shrimp in lemon/basil sauced pasta, Lobster Mac n’ Cheese or Tarragon Salmon burst with flavor.

“ Food brings out its delicate perfumes and flavors!” Matteo exclaimed.

 Also great as an aperitif, you might want to have a case on hand as the crowd cries out for ‘more!’

-Valdo “Cuvee 1926” Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG NV-$22. Valdo has been the ambassador for high quality Prosecco from the Valdobbiadene region and this is a celebration of its nearly century of progress. A beautiful light straw color introduces fine bubbles and a fresh youthful flavor of luscious ripe citrus fruits. Couched in lovely aromas of wildflowers and ripe banana, it captures the persistent flavors of crisp apples and tropical fruits that make this an excellent sparkling wine for all occasions.
Start things off with a bang by serving it as an aperitif, then carry right on through the first course of scrumptious garden salads and hand roiled avocado and crab ‘California Roll’ sushi for a lighthearted garden party.

-Numero 10 Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Metodo Classico 2019 Brut-$21

This is the sparkling wine that captures Italy’s ‘La Dolce Vita,’ the sweet life. The Bolla family created this single-vintage wine from intuition. Made from 100% native Glera grapes, it is unique to Valdo. Whereas most Prosecco is made from the Martinotti/Charmat method of fermentation in large, pressurized tanks, Numero 10 achieves its delicate characteristics and distinctive body and personality from re-fermentation in the bottle.

Allowed to continue to mature in the bottle for 10 months and then stored in the cellar for an additional 6 months, its soft mouthfeel is enhanced by the flavors of ripe fruit and hints of honey. Break out your best

Riedel or Schott Zwiesel long stemmed glassware to best enjoy this unique and exciting experience.

-Valdo Floral Rose Brut-$19. A Vino Spumante from the Veneto of the North and Sicily of the South, this is a blend of native wines from the two opposite spectrums of Italy. A combination of native Nerello Mascalese (75%) and traditional Glera (25%), grapes are harvested by hand followed by three months of aging using the Martinotti/Charmat method in large, pressurized temperature-controlled tanks, followed by two months of aging in the bottle.

The result is a fresh and elegant wine with fragrant flower aromas and concentrated fruit flavors of raspberries and wild strawberries. Mouthwatering and delicious, it is the perfect fit for summer celebrations.

The wine inside the bottle celebrates the art and craftsmanship of winemaker Gianfranco Zanon. The beautiful floral design of the colorful bottle is the work of famed Italian visionary designer Fabrizio Sciavi. Devoted to the world of flowers and the wild that represents the UNESCO protected area of the Valdobbiadene, this is a celebration in a bottle. Once the wine is drunk, the bottle makes a lovely decorative keepsake.
For more, visit valdo.com.

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