Ep. 2431 Robert Maggi interviews Nicola Biasi of Nicola Biasi Consulting | Clubhouse Ambassadors' Corner

This episode explores the rise of PV varieties (disease-resistant hybrid grape varieties) in Italy and how they could reshape sustainable viticulture and Italian wine culture. Host Robert Maggi interviews consultant and producer Nicola Biasi about his pioneering work with PV grapes like Joanniter, Sauvignon Gris and Sorelli, and the award-winning Vinda Lanao — a high-density, cold-site white that demonstrates the aging potential and quality possible from resistant vines. Nicola explains that PV varieties are hybrids created by crossing European Vitis vinifera with resilient Asian vines. The goal is to combine disease resistance with the flavor and structure typical of traditional grapes. While not immune, many PV varieties dramatically reduce the incidence of peronospora and oidium, lowering the number of copper and sulfur treatments from 15–20 per season down to two to five in many cases. That translates to substantial carbon footprint reduction and water footprint savings, making them a concrete tool for truly sustainable Italian viticulture. The conversation also covers the practical side: selecting the right PV variety for the right terroir, adapting vinification techniques to each hybrid, and the learning curve facing producers who previously planted resistant grapes in unsuitable, wet lowlands. Nicola emphasizes that high quality must come first — consumers buy excellent wine, not sustainability claims alone. His Vinda Lanao project, planted at very high density on cool-altitude sites and vinified with burgundy-style techniques, is presented as a proof of concept: a PV wine with complexity, aging potential and market recognition. Beyond the vineyard, Nicola founded the Rete Resistenti Nicola Biasi network to share know-how among producers and improve perception. He describes market differences: greater PV adoption and openness in Belgium, parts of northern Europe and the U.S., and more skepticism in Italy where tradition and bureaucracy slow adoption. Regulatory limits (for example, PV varieties not being permitted in some appellations like parts of Tuscany) present further challenges to scaling resistant-grape plantings. The episode concludes with broader reflections on climate adaptation: instead of wholesale vineyard relocation, changing varieties to those that perform under today's warming climate is a pragmatic path. Nicola’s experiments in Moselle — planting both Riesling and Joanniter and using modern tools like drones where allowed — show how blending tradition and innovation can produce great wine without sacrificing sustainability. This discussion is essential listening for winemakers, sommeliers, and wine lovers curious about hybrid grape varieties, sustainable wine practices, and the next chapter of Italian viticulture.