This week we present a delightful project where I reproduce, produce and photograph recipes of chefs in my studio, shortening the distances created by the pandemic. We started with a dish of African origin and typical of Brazilian cuisine, the reinterpretation of a Quibebe sent by the dear Brazilian chef Alexsandra Pires, and to pair with this dish we present a very particular wine: the Semplicemente Vino Stefano Bellotti, an assembly of Cortese grapes, grown in biodynamics. A young, fresh and unfiltered biodynamic white, which, combined with the Quibebe which has organic ingredients from producers here in Liguria, such as pumpkins, flowers and aromatic herbs, was a perfect marriage.

I confess that I am a bit moved by the discovery of this wine and the history it brings, and I share with you all the thoughts of the Tripla A website and of Stefano Bellotti:

“Unfortunately today we have completely lost the notion of agronomy. Agronomy is a science of the living and, as a science of the living, it is a whole science of observation, of listening, of relating. Instead, today, agronomy is mistaken for a technique. It gets confused with technology. This represents a disaster. Even in organic we see that there are soils that are not very vital. The capital of the human species on earth is one. It is not oil, it is not money that does not exist in nature, but there is only one capital which is humus. Because without humus we cannot survive. We are looting it wildly and indiscriminately. We are destroying it. It still allows us to live but we are plundering it. The good thing is that humus wants to be on earth! And if we start working well, it regenerates.”

This text was taken from the Cascina degli Ulivi website and are words from the mentor Stefano Bellotti who is remembered among the pioneers of natural wine, as well as being an Ambassador of biodynamic agriculture, together with other great precursors such as Luigi Brezza, the first Italian biodynamic farmer. But I am only learning this whole story now, because it has been less than 2 years since I discovered and immersed myself in the important world of natural and biodynamic wines. Knowing the story of Stefano Bellotti made me understand even more the greatness of this culture, I will passionately continue my search for knowledge in this universe of biodynamic agriculture and I will share what I am learning along this journey. For interested readers, I leave the reference links.

Best regards.