38 / 126
Maculan
For three generations the Maculan family has been selecting and vinifying the best grapes in Breganze, an
enchanting village at the foot of the Alps in Italy’s Veneto region. While the surrounding mountains protect the
area from cold winds, creating a perfect microclimate for the cultivation of wine grapes, it is Fausto Maculan’s
drive and commitment that sets these wines apart and distinguishes Maculan as an innovative, dynamic
winery. Continually at the forefront of any dessert wine discussion, Fausto Maculan has received numerous
accolades from the world’s most esteemed wine critics.
It can be said that Fausto Maculan was born to make wine, having been birthed in the very building that
today houses his office at the Maculan winery. At age 13, he began working at the winery during school
vacations and visiting customers with the assistance of a driver (he was too young to have a license).
At the age of 14, Fausto enrolled at the famed School of Enology in Conegliano, where he graduated with
honors in 1970. He then completed an obligatory year of military service as an official of the valiant Alpine
Corps, a division of the Italian Army known to have a long-standing affinity for wine. Finally, Fausto realized his
true calling - managing the viticultural, productive, and commercial aspects of the family business, under the
credo of “a small winery making great products.”
Despite a particularly difficult period for winemaking in the Veneto region during this time, Fausto made
a courageous decision to invest in improving the quality of his wines, dedicating all his energy and resources
to this endeavor. He studied diligently, traveled to the best winemaking areas in the world, including Bordeaux
in France, and boldly experimented with his wines — at times arousing incredulity among observers. These
efforts bolstered the Maculan winery image, bringing the company to its highest levels and enabling Fausto to
offer his customers a complete selection of high-quality whites, impressive reds, and delicious dessert wines.
Since 1985, Fausto has been the course director for the Association of Italian Sommeliers (AIS). He is also
recognized as an expert taster, nominated to judge both national and international wine competitions. In 2007,
Angela and Maria Vittoria, Fausto’s daughters, officially joined Maculan’s operations. Angela travels the world
to represent the winery and Maria Vittoria graduated from the Oenological and Viticulture Science University
of Padua to follow in her father’s winemaking footsteps.
Acininobili Veneto IGT
Acininobili, or “noble berries” in Italian, is the result of painstaking hand selection of dried Vespaiola
grapes affected by botrytis cinerea (a noble rot that concentrates the sugars in the berries). Fermented
in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, and matured in new French barriques for two years,
Acininobili is also refined in bottle for 6 months to pursue the best balance between impeccable
sweetness and lively acidity.
Brentino Veneto IGT
Brenta is the main river near Breganze, and is also the name for a wooden basket, worn like a backpack,
that was traditionally used to transport grapes during harvest. This Bordeaux-inspired red is a blend of
50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon that Fausto Maculan has crafted into a quintessentially Italian
wine. To ensure the perfect balance between fruitiness and softness, the wine is aged for one year, 50% of
it in French barriques, and 50% in stainless steel tanks.
30
WINES OF NORTHERN ITALY