VITIS METAMORFOSIS Winery – Italian professionalism

I must tell you from the beginning, that I have been to Vitis Metamorfosis twice, the first time at the beginning of July 2020 and then I repeated the visit in September 2022. Maybe you are wondering why?...the answer is Fiorenzo Rista.

Fiorenzo Rista, today co-owner, oenologist and manager of the Viile Metamorfosis winery, came from Italy to Romania in 1998 and was part of the first wave of makers of the superpremium wine category from our country. It is no coincidence that, after exploring several areas, he decided to settle in Dealu Mare, in association with one of the most reputable families in the world of international wine – the Antinori marquises family, with a history in the field of over seven centuries.

Thus, on April 26, 2002, the Vitis Meamorfosis Winery was born.

Born in the city of Alba near Turin, Piedmont - the "Burgundy" of Italy as it is also called, where the red wines Barollo and Barbaresco are the emblem of the region, Fiorenzo started the Vitis Metamorfosis adventure in 2008, after previously collaborating with Vinarte.

The way of being of this Italian, extremely passionate about what he does, of communicating directly and openly with all visitors to the winery, the multitude of detailed explanations that for an uninitiated person can be annoying, made me place Fiorenzo in the gallery of great winemakers. And believe me, what comes out of his hand is pure gold, or more precisely superpremium wines.

Fiorenzo is one of the oenologists who have had a decisive contribution to the change in the face of Romanian wine in the last 20 years, signing some of the most successful labels on the market.

Everything, absolutely everything I tasted at Vitis Metamorfosis on both visits, were wines that now, after years of experience in the field, I place at the top of my preferences

I recall here from the Colțul Pietrei range - Sauvignon Blanc, the most successful creation of this variety I have tasted so far. Fiorenzo is also an innovator, a pioneer, through the successful acclimatization of the Negru de Drăgășani variety in Dealul Mare. The Marquis's vineyard range is a testament to this.

The Cantus Primus range, in which Cabernet Sauvignon and Feteasca Neagră take pride of place, once again complete the exceptional creations of the creator Fiorenzo Rista.

I also want to tell you that on my second visit to the winery in September 2022, I experienced a special moment.

I keep autumn in my soul as a return to the origins, with a sublime thought sent to grandparents and childhood. Autumn is the ideal season to reminisce over a glass of wine.

In that sweet beginning of autumn, when the time had come to harvest the vineyard, just as Fiorenzo was giving us details about the process of receiving the grapes in the winery, a trailer with grapes of the Feteasca Neagră variety had just arrived.

The scent and flavor of the freshly picked grapes, the special ambiance – as if I felt Fiorenzo, a lifelong friend – the idyllic image of the grapes passing through the crusher and destemmer, made me believe that I too was part of this wonderful painting. All that was needed was the hand of a painter to finish the painting!

We then went on to visit the interior of the winery. Here is a surprise!...the one who led us and gave us the necessary explanations was none other than Fiorenzo's daughter, proof that here at Viile Metamorfosis continuity is part of the winery's life.

As is our custom, at the end of the visit and tasting, we went downstairs to the winery shop, where Fiorenzo's daughter also offered us at promotional prices the varieties of wine produced here, varieties so cherished and loved by her father.

A presto Fiorenzo, arrivederci caro amico!...

Some technical data about the Vitis Metamorfosis winery:

Wine cellar/headquarters address: Sat Ungureni, Commune Vadu Săpat, Jud. Prahova

Year of establishment: 2008; DOC: Dealu Mare

Number of hectares: 75 Ha

Liters of wine bottled annually: 350,000 L

Owner: Marchesi Antinori and Rista Family Co-ownership

Wine ranges: Metamorfosis Vineyards, Coltul Pietrei, Via Marchizului, Cantvs Primvs

Grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Fetească Regală, Muscat Ottonel, Fetească Albă, Chardonnay, Tamaioasă Românească, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Fetească Neagră, Syrah, Negru de Drăgășani, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc.