When I first heard the term “Château Garage,” my ears immediately perked up. I couldn’t resist turning on my camera and placing myself in front of Celestino Gaspari, the driving force behind Zymé—a Valpolicella winery that, if you don’t yet know, you absolutely should.
A long journey, a wealth of experience, leading Celestino to the decision to create a wine without compromise—one made from the best grapes available and shaped by his own expertise.
Garganega, Trebbiano Toscano, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Teroldego, Croatina, Oseleta, Sangiovese, Marzemino…
Arlequin—this is the name of the “result” of that journey.
A multitude of grapes as an expression of a territory, but above all as an expression of the desire to work in full respect of the land, seeking a true symbiosis between man and nature. That’s why, when telling the story of his wine, Celestino speaks of foot crushing, fermentation at natural temperatures, and indigenous yeasts. Man–vine–earth–sun–water: undoubtedly the five essential elements of winemaking. But never more than in this case is the human element decisive. And the name Zymé—Greek for “yeast”—perfectly captures Celestino’s restless drive to explore new paths.
The term “Château Garage” was born during a presentation in Switzerland. A bit like Steve Jobs and the early days of Apple—something that began in a garage. Yet Zymé’s creative energy does not stop with Arlequin. Like Steve, Celestino Gaspari has managed to turn those early ideas into something much larger.
The journey he proposes to me is, in a way, unusual. From his “From Black to White,” an IGT Veneto where Rondinella—typically a red grape—is used in its white expression, moving through Valpolicella Superiore, Oseleta, Amarone, and Kairos. An unexpected path, made of aromas that deviate from the familiar, of grape varieties I had never encountered, of blends that once again reveal Celestino Gaspari’s alchemist-like spirit. A man attentive to the land, to sustainability, but above all to staying true to his ideas—never breaking the thread that runs from Arlequin through to the essence of Kairos, and even into its label.
“Man–vine–earth–sun–water”—these are the five elements. But I would replace them, without hesitation, with: “Celestino–vine–earth–sun–water.”
