Khanh Nguyen & Franco Batzella

Batzella

In 1999, Khanh Nguyen and Franco Batzella, a couple who had worked for over 20 years in international finance, decided to return to Italy to take up a new life challenge. They founded the artisan winery estate Batzella in Tuscany, that enchanted land of vines and wines.

Following their motto Quaerando invenietis (keep searching and you will find), they combine their passion for perfection and the best grape growing and winemaking practices. In fact, Khanh went back to school and got a Master degree in Vineyard/Winery Management under the direction of Professor Attilio Scienza at the University of Milan. Thus working from vineyards in the two best Tuscan territories -Bolgheri (home of Sassicaia) and Montalcino (home of Brunello), their aim is to make wines that express the very best of the local terroirs and traditions, the Spirit of the land or Genius loci as the ancient Romans called it. In praise of the beauty of these Tuscan lands, the names chosen for some of the wines have been inspired by poetry quotations from two famous ‘native sons’ Giosue’ Carducci and Gabriele D’Annunzio.

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Vve Fourny & Fils Ratafia

Vve Fourny & Fils

If the Champagne is closely associated to the Champagne-Ardenne, there is another typically Champagne production which has to be discovered, it is Ratafia. This sweetened aperitif owes the origins of its name with all the drinks which is drunk during the ratification of a treaty. Ratafia is made with the rest of the grape of pinot recovered at the exit of the press, without any filtration, mixed with a marc brandy. Once prepared, the base is at least reserved two years out of barrels of oak, which will give him its superb brown color.

Just before the end of the process, the Ratafia is around 18° of alcohol. It must be served between 6 and 8°C to appreciate as well as possible its flavors of Marc, of candied fruits and citrus fruits bark. In general offered out of aperitif, Ratafia will be a must with a melon, a piece of foie gras or a blue cheese or with spotted paste. Test it with a chocolate cake and you will appreciate this quite unusual but so delicious mix.

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