Walter De Battè's "Saladero" is a thrilling orange wine, a true squeeze of the sea and sweetness. The name of the wine is inspired by the fish salting places, particularly dear to Walter because they remind him of his childhood in Riomaggiore, near the small port where the anchovy salting facility, or "saladero," once stood. Walter De Battè, an artisan from the Cinque Terre, crafts this unique nectar through the ancestral practice of blending white grape varieties from two different vintages. His creations encapsulate the essence of the land and landscape in a glass so vividly that drinking them transports you to a Mediterranean sunset. Spanning 3.5 hectares on the steep slopes of Riomaggiore, the vineyards are cultivated with local varieties such as Vermentino, Albarola, and Bosco, some of which are very old vines reaching up to 80 years of age. Experimentation, culture, sensitivity: each bottle is unique, featuring beautiful labels hand-painted by the producer and replicated in print on the bottles.
The "Saladero" wine comes from a blend of white varieties and from the assembly of two vintages (2016-2017). In the vineyard, no chemical or synthetic products are used, and given the rugged and steep terrain, harvesting is done manually at full ripeness with very low yields. In the cellar, the philosophy is to respect the grape and the land as much as possible, so after destemming, the must ferments in steel using only indigenous yeasts and macerates on the skins for about 8 days. After alternating in open and closed tanks, it undergoes no filtration before bottling.
In the glass, the "Saladero" white wine displays an enchanting golden color, edged with amber reflections. The sunniness suggested by the color is fully encountered on the nose as well: it bursts with intoxicating hints of ripe peach, Mediterranean scrub, citrus peel, and acacia honey. A great complexity outlines a luscious wine that immediately entices the sip. The taste delivers a full and velvety liquid, where the soft tactility lines the palate, pampering it. Then, it further unfolds thanks to a well-presented salinity, reminiscent of the sea seen from the vines. A magnificent wine that combines territory, craftsmanship, and elegance.
