Buglioni, Masa, Trebbiano, Lugana, Italy 2020

In June 1993, Alfredo Buglioni purchased an old farmhouse surrounded by 3.89 hectares (9.6 acres) of vineyards and 2 hectares (4.9 acres) of olive groves in Valpolicella Classico, northwest of Verona, Italy. Alfredo, his wife, Gabriella, son Mariano, and Mariano’s family, had been living in a larger village, and were ready to move to the more-relaxing countryside in Corrubbio di San Pietro in Cariano, one of five villages that comprise the Valpolicella Classico region. After only two months in the Buglionis’ new home, and without any knowledge of how to prune, harvest or store the precious wine grapes surrounding their farmhouse, the vineyards were ready to be harvested. Initially, each vintage was a joyous event shared with friends and collaborators, but soon the Buglionis’ vision and passion allowed them to dream that they could become “real” winemakers.

In 2000, after renovating the farmhouse and its underground cellars — the Buglionis turned to the prestigious Oenology Institute of San Michele all’Adiage in Trento, Italy, to find a young enologist to join them in their new adventure as wine producers. Diego Bertoni took up the challenge and is still their enologist today.

Named ‘Musa’ or ‘Muse’ in English, this wine is a source of viticulturally inspiration for the Buglioni family who dreamed of producing a world-class white wine from a historical region in their Veneto homeland. The last white wine born in the Buglioni winery after the purchase of a 3 hectare vineyard in year 2014 in the Lugana area. It is 100% Turbiana, or Trebbiano a Lugana, which has been a mysterious varietal throughout history. Trebbiano di Soave and Trebbiano di Lugana have long been considered the highest quality members of the gaggle of grapes that go by the Trebbiano name, and in fact it has been shown that Trebbiano di Soave is genetically the same as the respected Verdicchio grape of Marche. Neither Soave nor Lugana is interested in adopting the name Verdicchio for their grapes, because they feel that would just confuse things further, but they are quite happy to be rid of the Trebbiano association. Thus, local producers in Lugana tend toward the name Turbiana. 

As the producer notes about Musa: “straw yellow color with green shimmers. Intense aroma, rich notes of flowers, fruity with hints of citrus. Good structure and acidity with delicate mineral undertones.”