I recently attended a screening of Senza Trucco, a movie about woman making natural Italian wine. The name Senza Trucco has a bit of a double meaning. It translates to ‘without makeup‘ – which can apply to both the female wine producers themselves, who are mostly au natural in the film, but also to the wine they produce, since it’s all natural and organic. No chemicals, no fiddling around with it.
The award-winning documentary by Giulia Graglia and Marco Fiumara, follows four women winemakers, who each produce wine from different regions in Italy, through all four seasons. It was an up close and personal look at the wine-making process, their properties, their individual personalities and of course their undying passion for wine.
Since they each are so hands-on, their business of making wine is hard work. Very hard work. Their lives revolve around it. They all live, sleep, breathe and taste wine.
Think making wine is glamorous? Let these Italian women set you straight! Of course, as a viewer, you can’t help but want to visit these wineries, which are scattered among the Italian countryside, and sample the fruits of their labor.
You can watch the trailer here:
The women winemakers featured, in order from North to South were:
- Elisabetta Foradori, from the Trentino-Alto Adige. She talks about making Teroldego. She has a unique way of wrapping her grapevines and using old terracotta pots to ferment the wine which I found fascinating. The vineyard featured was set against a backdrop of the Dolomites- stunning doesn’t begin to cover it. You can also learn more about her in this recent La Cucina Italiana magazine write-up.
- Nicoletta Bocca, from San Fereolo in the Piedmont region. She is featured making Dolcetto di Dogliani. She came from Milan and didn’t know much about wine but set out to learn from her neighbors. Many of her vineyards were purchased from said neighbors when they grew elderly and could no longer tend them.
- Dora Forsoni, from Tuscany. Her winery, Poderi Sanguineto I & II, makes Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Rosso di Montepulciano. Dora was a hoot and one tough cookie. She told a story of a run in with a wild boar and has many scenes butchering things.
- Arianna Occhipinti, from Ragusa Sicily, is the youngest and most energetic of the bunch. Some of her vines were also uniquely trellised, growing up and around in a circular motion.
Wines Tasted at Senza Trucco
Thanks to the organizer, Gianni Lovato, we were treated to a wine tasting from each of the four producers and I was thoroughly impressed with them all. Years ago organic wines tasted like dirt. Frankly, crap. But this genre of wine has come a long way.
If you get the opportunity to see the film, I highly recommend it. I would also suggest you try any of the wines from these producers.
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