BALESTRI VALDA
SOAVE - VENETO
“We say no to chemicals and grow our vines and olive trees according to the principles of organic viticulture with every agricultural practice being an expression of our deep respect for nature and harmony with our ecosystem. That’s why we started beekeeping with enthusiasm. Our happy bees prove that protecting biodiversity is possible and a duty we take on with pleasure.”
Balestri Valda is a family-run estate led by Laura Rizzotto, a beekeeper and passionate advocate for biodiversity, who cares for her organically farmed vineyards and olive groves with dedication. She cultivates Garganega and the native Trebbiano di Soave in basalt-rich soils at 180–300 metres above sea level. At the heart of the estate is their small slice of the Sengialta cru whose name – taken from the local word sengio – pays tribute to the vineyard’s dark volcanic soils.
Showcasing the potential and diversity of her land, Laura produces some wonderfully contrasting wines: from Libertate, 100% Trebbiano di Soave raised in terracotta amphora, to Vigneto Sengialta, a cru bottling of old-vine Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave aged on lees for two years in 20-hectolitre botti.
The wines of Balestri Valda are alive, textured, and precise – testament to the meticulous vineyard work and gentle, thoughtful winemaking that define this estate.
THE WINES
NV Balestri Valda Soave Brut Biologico ‘Volkanus’
In addition to Balestri Valda’s vibrant still wines, Laura’s leans on her brother for his expertise as the region’s sparkling wine specialist. Volkanus is the result: a Garganega-based sparkling wine, fresh and racy with a delicate bead, refined through an extended fermentation using the long Charmat method.
Balestri Valda Soave Classico DOC
100% Garganega from black basalt soils. Certified organic. Fermented and aged in stainless steel, this Soave is fresh, textured, and expressive—worlds apart from the bulk wines often associated with the region. Its generosity and purity stem from the painstaking organic viticulture and the meticulous care Laura and Fede devote to their vines. The result is a beautifully balanced wine: racy yet complete, layered with plump stone fruits, blossoms, and fine detail.
“The 2022 Soave Classico Biologico wafts up with a delicate bouquet as orange zest and wildflowers give way to freshly sliced pear and wet stone. It sweeps across the palate, energetic and full of mineral tension, displaying ripe orchard fruits and pretty inner florals. This finishes with medium length and a salty flourish that lingers on.” 89 points - Eric Guido, Vinous
Balestri Valda Trebbiano Veronese IGT ‘Libertate’
Libertate is crafted entirely from the rare local grape Trebbiano di Soave – genetically identical to Verdicchio of Le Marche – and bottled in purity by only a handful of producers committed to reviving its legacy. The fruit is vinified and aged in stainless steel and terracotta amphora, the latter lined with the estate’s own beeswax, imparting texture, depth, and subtle complexity. Juicy peach and melon mingle with lemon zest, wild herbs, and delicate floral notes, producing an expressive white that reaffirms Soave’s place on the map for fine, distinctive wines.
“Beeswax, pear pulp, yellow florals set off a sense of richness, abundance and the fecundity of Spring. The palate follows suit, hitting initially with a ripe orchard fruit bowl creating texture and richness before the limestone cinches the corset and draws the wine back to the centre. This sense of restraint V abundance is further accentuated by a lovely almond clip on the back end. I can see this with anything from soft cheese to scampi. Gorgeous wine.” - Michael McNamara, PWS
Balestri Valda Soave Classico DOC ‘Sengialta’
Laura’s project culminates in the tiny cru of Sengialta – named for the local word Sengio, meaning basalt rock – where the soil is an intense, dark basalt that is striking to witness. The vineyard is planted with 70% old-vine Garganega and 30% reintroduced Trebbiano di Soave. Certified organic, the fruit is spontaneously fermented in stainless steel and aged for 22 months in 2,000-litre old oak casks on fine lees. The result is a sublime, complex, and age-worthy white wine that perfectly expresses the character of its volcanic terroir.
“Spicy and floral, the 2020 Soave Classico Sengialta opens in the glass with an inviting blend of crushed apples, crystalized ginger and sweet smoke. This is silky and round, nearly opulent in feel, with a core of saline minerals and brisk acids to balance. A salty flourish punctuates the finish, along with hints of lime, creating a savory yet still remarkably fresh impression. Outstanding purity and poise mixed with ripe fruit make the Sengialta a pleasure to taste.” 91 points - Eric Guido, Vinous