The Opificio del Pinot Nero was born from the visionary dream of Marco Buvoli, a wine artisan who chose to devote himself with passion to one of the most fascinating and complex grape varieties: Pinot Noir. The idea took shape in the late 1990s, when Marco decided to turn his passion into a tangible project, creating a small winery in the hills of Vicenza, in Gambugliano, and combining his other great love: rock music. Not by chance he defines the Opificio as “the rock winery,” a place where rhythm, vibrations, and emotions flow among the barrels and accompany every wine on its journey.
The vineyards are located on the hills surrounding Vicenza and Padua, in a mosaic of soils and microclimates that enhance the different expressions of the grapes and the land. Location, slope, exposure, and soil composition – each plot has its own character and is interpreted in full respect of what makes it unique. Cultivation has always followed organic and biodynamic principles, with meticulous attention to the vine and the fruit. French clones, strict pruning, very low yields, and hand harvesting in small crates ensure only healthy, ripe grapes – because only from great grapes can great wine be born.
“Doing what you love and doing it well, in the belief that this passion flows into the wine, is a fascinating adventure.”
In the cellar, the work follows the same philosophy: positive vibrations, rock rhythm, and absolute respect for the raw material. Whole and healthy grapes are used, with macerations and fermentations in steel or wooden vats, and ageing in barriques and tonneaux that vary according to vineyard and vintage, with the goal of extracting the maximum natural potential from each plot. Movements are careful and gentle, always following nature and even gravity, to never stress the wine. The heart of the Opificio is the Classic Method, with sparkling wines that express the authentic character of Pinot Noir. The cuvées are created by blending wines from different vintages, with a small reserve portion aged in wood using the Solera method to add complexity and depth. Long ageing on the lees – often over 36 months – sculpts wines of great elegance, creaminess, and mineral tension, capable of moving and surprising the drinker.
Alongside the sparkling wines, Marco also produces red Pinot Noirs that reflect the purest soul of the variety. In recent years, he has also experimented with so-called “garage wines”: tiny productions, followed step by step, conceived as unique and unrepeatable expressions. Here we find the Burgundy-style vinified Chardonnay, the TPS – an important, powerful, and concentrated red wine with impressive structure – and the Cabernet Franc, an elegant interpretation inspired by the Loire, combining character and finesse. Few bottles, all handcrafted, born from a desire to experiment and push beyond the boundaries of Pinot Noir.
Today, annual production stands at around 28,000 bottles – a deliberately limited quantity to guarantee the highest quality and artisanal control at every stage. The Opificio del Pinot Nero is not just a winery, but a laboratory of ideas and emotions, where wine and music merge to give life to authentic creations that reach the heart first and then the mind. Every glass is a journey: from vineyard to glass, through the hands of Marco and his collaborators, it tells a story of passion, courage, and continuous research. A story that has made the Opificio del Pinot Nero a benchmark for those seeking Italian wines able to converse with the great international classics, without ever losing their deep connection to their land and artisanal soul.
Photo © Takeshi Carlotto
