Gelmino and Cristina Dal Bosco's small family farm is in Brognoligo, the ultimate zone for vineyards at the heart of the Soave Classico region. The family for years sold their grapes to the local co-op but since 2002 took the decison to make their own wines and express their very specific terroir. Thank goodness they did. Their prized vineyards sit on the slopes of an ancient volcano. The steep slopes make viticulture hard work - but the vines thrive here at altitude, firmly rooted in the ancient, basalt-rich volcanic soils. The top wine 'Roccolo del Durlo' comes from such steep vineyards, which similar to the Douro are built up on ancient dry stone walls so that working here is officially certified as 'Heroic Viticulture'!

This geology adds an unmistakable vein of mineral freshness to the two brilliant wines. They only grow Garganega here and the juice has a lovely weight of soft pear fruit, some melon and delicious fresh brush of citrus too - aligned with the clean, precise mineral undertone - the results are great. Finally we have found what we have been searching for. A brilliant producer of fresh, textured Soaves that you just want to drink.