Page 9 - Code de Vino, #12/18, s/s 2016
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8 Wine Club Code de Vino #12 Code de Vino #12 Donato Lanati. Special Oenology Forces 9
Prior to this interview, I had already visited what are you talking about? Give me some
the Georgian monastery of Alaverdi, talked red instead!" To which he said: "No, try this
to the co-founder of Badagoni, and knew that one first." And then something unimaginable
Donato Lanati, who worked with them, was happened to me for the first time in my life —
a world-renowned Italian oenologist and winner for the entire night I drank that sparkling
of the international Oscar del Vino award. Plus, Badagoni Sexton Brut, nothing else.
Interview by Oleg Cherne I was aware that Wine Enthusiast magazine listed So I exclaimed: "I positively must see Donato!"
him among the top 5 best oenologists in the world. So unusual and unexpected the drink was
Donato Lanati as he was already a renowned expert, he dared The following course of events was also quite
He created a one-of-a-kind research center, and
for me, and he was the key to it all.
to accept a new challenge: he travelled
unusual: before the interview, as signor
to Georgia, where he had never been before,
in order to learn more about its ancient tradition
I was turning into champagne as well. What
of winemaking and create truly supreme wine. Donato showed me around his lab, I felt like
I mean here is that our talk in his lab filled me
Special Oenology Forces However, interviewing him wasn't on my list with effervescent bubbles of excitement...
of priorities until one day when the co-founder
And you know, no one but him has ever got
of Badagoni, Georgi Salakaya, invited me me in the mood for an interview quite like
to his house and said: "I'd like you to try my that before!
champagne." I responded: "Oh, come on,
