NV Venissa Bianco Collection (2011, 2012, 2013)

Venice’s native Dorona grape was almost lost in the floods of 1966, but was rescued by the Bisol family. Gianluca Bisol planted a vineyard on the island of Mazzorbo with rare cuttings of the variety just over a decade ago. Made in tiny volumes, the result is Venissa Bianco, a white wine unlike any other. This extraordinary grape has adapted to the lagoon’s damp conditions and salt-rich soils. Time on skins gives it grip and texture, while there’s remarkable freshness with a savoury, saline character as well as citrus and riper, exotic fruit. It sits somewhere in between mature white Burgundy, white Hermitage and Chardonnay or Savagnin from the Jura. This case contains two 50cl bottles each of three vintages: 2011, 2012 and 2013.