Ticino, Al Ronco, Christian Zündel - 2020

A graduate in podiatry, Christian Zündel arrived in Ticino at the end of the 1970s. After a diversion into agriculture, he planted his first vineyard, "nuciola", in partnership with Adriano Kaufmann and acquired Orizzonte, probably the oldest Merlot vineyard in the region, since it was planted in 1905 by Giovanni Rossi, who was one of the first to introduce Merlot to Tessin. Located around Beride in the Malcantone, a beautiful region with 26 preserved villages, bordered on its eastern side by Lake Lugano and on its north-western side by Monte Lema, which offers a panoramic view of the entire region as far as the Po plain, the vines of this small estate (4.2 ha) are located on brown gneiss that has been very eroded and allows the root system to take root, as well as on moraine deposits. Because of the risk of erosion, these are grassed - grass management being a fundamental issue for Christian Zündel. The rainfall here is significant; it can vary from 1000 to 3000 mm per year. This does not discourage Christian Zündel, who has turned to biodynamics and biodiversity: the new vines are replanted with trees (mulberry tree, dogwood, field maple, etc.)