Ep. 2784 The Other Side of Valpolicella: Volcanic Soils & Sparkling Wines with Francesca Marcato of Talestri Winery | Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon

What happens when volcanic soils meet the classic wines of Valpolicella?

Welcome to episode 2784 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 260 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. In this episode, Marc is joined by Francesca Marcato to explore Valpolicella through its wines, landscapes, food, and fascinating local stories.

Together, they explore the heart of the region, discovering what makes Valpolicella unique, including the volcanic soils surrounding Francesca’s winery, a distinctive feature that sets this part of the area apart. Francesca also shares the story of the winery and its connections to the neighbouring wine territories of Lessini and Soave.

From the classic wines that have made Valpolicella famous to a more unexpected discovery of sparkling wines made from grapes traditionally associated with the region, this episode reveals a playful and surprising side of Valpolicella.

And, of course, no journey through Italian wine is complete without food. Marc and Francesca explore typical dishes from the area and discover how the region’s wines come alive when paired with its traditional cuisine.

More about the guest:

Francesca Marcato is an agronomist, agricultural entrepreneur and co-founder of Talestri Winery, located in the volcanic hills of Lavagno, in eastern Valpolicella. Coming from a historic winemaking family, she studied agriculture before founding Talestri in 2015 with her father Francesco and sisters Anna and Lisa.

Today, Francesca oversees the winery’s agronomic management and brand promotion, with a focus on sustainable, biodiversity-friendly viticulture and the distinctive character of the area’s volcanic soils. Talestri works with native varieties including Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella, producing Valpolicella, Ripasso and Amarone, as well as Metodo Classico sparkling wines.

Connect

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talestri.winery/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talestri-winery/

Website: https://www.talestri.com/en

More about the host:

Marc Millon, a VIA Italian Wine Ambassador since 2021, is a celebrated expert in the world of wine, food, and travel and an award-winning author of 15 books on these topics. Since 2021, he has been the host of the ‘Wine, Food, and Travel with Marc Millon’ weekly series on the Italian Wine Podcast, which now has well over 220 episodes of the show. Marc’s latest book is “Italy in a Wineglass – the Taste of History” published by Hurst, London and Melville House, New York (Guild of Food Writers ‘Drinks Writer Award’ 2025 and the World Gourmand ‘Best Wine History Book in the World Award’ 2025). In addition to his writing and podcasting, Marc is a sought-after speaker and hosts gastronomic cultural tours to Italy in partnership with Martin Randall Travel, a leading specialist in cultural travel. When he's not exploring the culinary landscapes of the world, Marc resides along the scenic River Exe in Devon, England.

Connect:

Website:

https://www.quaypress.uk

https://www.marcmillon.co.uk

https://www.vino.co.uk

https://www.quaypress.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-millon-50868624/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Marc_Millon

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Until next time, Cin Cin!

Thanks for listening! This show is all about food and wine pairings, and traveling through Italy with Marc. Join him on this food, wine and cultural journey!