Frozza

From Selected Estates Imports:

Az.Agr. Frozza is a small grower in Valdobbiadene widely regarded by connoisseurs in the Veneto region as a self-styled, outstanding virtuoso in the art of artisanal and organic Prosecco winemaking.

After a visit to the estate in May 2003 and a revealing tasting with Giovanni Frozza (owner and winemaker) we decided to import his uncharacteristically elegant, stony, creamy Prosecco right away. Az.Agr. Frozza is a tiny family-run winery situated in the heart of the Valdobbiadene Doc appellation (Colbertaldo di Vidor), long recognized in the region for producing terroir-infused Prosecco Valdobbiadene from extreme, super-steep mountain-side vineyards situated in prized historical sites.

Giovanni Frozza and his uncle Ivo do everything out in the vineyards as well as into the cellar, perpetuating a deep-rooted savoir-fare transmitted from fathers to sons over four generations. No consulting winemakers, no cultured yeasts, no purchased grapes; rather, 100% estate old vines tended with the traditional Pergola system, reproduced from massale cuttings and located in the most extreme, rocky, steep parcels to be found in the Valdobbiadene area.

Az.Agr. Frozza estate vineyards stretch over 8 Ha., all concentrated in historical sites such as Col dell’Orso and Federa. 25 to 50 years old vines afford ideal growing conditions here (south-south and south-east exposure), plunging their roots direct into the cracks of giant white stones from the Piave alluvial valley ['Sasso Bianco del Piave' terroir].

Vine density is up to 4.000-4.500 plants per Ha. Prosecco Spumante Extra-Dry Col dell’Orso is meant as the house’s premium Prosecco bottling, more structured and complex. Compared to those average, mass-market Prosecco manufactured by big houses and coop cellars that are mainstream in the US market, Az.Agr. Frozza offers another side altogether of the popular sparkler from Valdobbiadene: graceful aromatic purity combined with crunchy stoniness and miniaturized, everlasting foam.

In spite of recent permission to use up to 10% of Pinot Bianco / Chardonnay grapes in the composition of Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Doc, Giovanni Frozza is resolute in his decision to keep producing Prosecco solely from the eponymous native grapes. The result is in the glass and we let you appreciate the exactness of Giovanni’s obsession with all-native Prosecco!

Last but not least, Giovanni Frozza rejects cultured yeasts and prefers to produce his own pied-de-cuve from indigenous yeast strains collected over the years throughout isolated and abandoned vineyards found in Colbertaldo di Vidor.