Villa Parens Winery

This is What Happens When Your Friends Become Famiglia

As they say in Italy, “when you’re here, you’re famiglia”. Lucky for me, Villa Parens, winemakers in the northern Italian Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, take this sentiment to heart. Founder, Vittorio Puiatti, was one of the leaders of the modern-day winemaking industry in Italy.

Villa Parens wines are artistic and elegant, using pure methods that allow the natural complexities of the grape to come through in every glass. They were recently reviewed in the prestigious Edible Arts Blog for their artistry in producing Metodo Classico Sparkling Wines from Northern Italy. The Puiattis are very creative people and have a strong belief that “before wine is a drink, it is an idea.” And that idea means everything leading up to your first sip, matters.

I met Elisabetta and Giovanni Puiatti in early 2016 at a wine tasting in Venice: their Blanc de Blancs was my top-rated sparkling wine among nearly 100 offerings.  I met them again in April at VinItaly, when they hosted me for a series of tastings and dinners “Puiatti style!”  Their booth was teaming with friends, clients and general admirers. All were there to taste their delicious wines and soak up some of the amazing hospitality. Here I had my first taste of the Rosè de Noir and I was anxious to add it to my product selection. They don’t make a lot of these wonderful classic method sparkling wines, so I am lucky and honored to represent their wines in California.