producer profile

<p>Trish Nelson is an Australian expat making wine near <glossary term="Lake Bolsena" title="173">Bolsena</glossary> in the northern part of the&nbsp;<span class="zalup"><span><glossary term="Lazio" title="585">Lazio</glossary><span>.</span></span></span> A love affair with food and wine drove her to live and travel extensively in Italy and during this period she<br /> ended up working at a couple notable wineries, Cantina Giardino and Le Coste. After that, it only felt logical to&nbsp;start her own project. She now lives in a quaint, modest home in Localit&agrave; Gazzetta high in the wooded hills above the village of Bolsena,&nbsp;farming&nbsp;grapes from three different distinct sites. The vines benefit from the special microclimate of this area. <glossary term="Lake Bolsena" title="173">Lake Bolsena</glossary> is one of Europe&rsquo;s largest <glossary term="Volcanic" title="1117">volcanic</glossary> lakes and the combination of the <glossary term="Volcanic" title="1117">volcanic</glossary> soil and the unique wind patterns caused by the heating and cooling of this large body of water lends itself to the cultivation of grapes. Two of the sites are in view of <glossary term="Lake Bolsena" title="173">Lake Bolsena</glossary> and are planted predominantly with white grapes on&nbsp;<span class="zalup"><span><glossary term="Sand" title="909">sandy</glossary><span>,</span></span></span> <glossary term="Volcanic" title="1117">volcanic</glossary> soil. The other site is about 40 minutes away and planted with red grapes in&nbsp;more <glossary term="Limestone" title="596">limestone</glossary> rich soils.<br /> <br /> She works <glossary term="Organic" title="746">organically</glossary> in the vines including using teas and composts made from indigenous plants. Her use of teas is specifically her attempt to cut back on using&nbsp;<span class="zalup"><span><glossary term="Copper" title="333">copper</glossary><span>-</span></span></span><glossary term="Sulfites" title="993">sulfate</glossary> (based on the very valid concern of heavy metals in the soil) despite the fact that it&rsquo;s allowed in <glossary term="Organic" title="746">organic</glossary> <span class="zalup"><span><glossary term="Viticulture" title="1103">viticulture</glossary><span>.</span></span></span></p> <p>Her very modest &ldquo;winery&rdquo; is a room cut into a hillside with a couple <glossary term="Barrel" title="142">barrels</glossary> and a handful of <glossary term="Vat/Tank" title="1140">tanks</glossary> of varying sizes (when we visited, it was occasionally tricky to have us all in the space at one time). She is particularly fond of using <glossary term="Chestnut Wood" title="1206">chestnut</glossary> <glossary term="Barrel" title="142">barrels</glossary> with her <glossary term="Maceration" title="610">macerated</glossary> white wines. Despite the limitations on space, Trish is making compelling wines full of energy. All the wines <glossary term="Spontaneous Fermentation" title="976">ferment&nbsp;spontaneously</glossary> with nothing added at any point during the winemaking or&nbsp;<span class="zalup"><span><glossary term="Bottling" title="185">bottling</glossary><span>.</span></span></span>&nbsp;</p>