When the classic concert begins, the performers quietly greet the audience with a "Prelude." The prelude announces the start of a lengthy work and hints at the musical story that will unfold. In the Renaissance era, preludes were merely introductions marking the beginning of music. However, the Baroque master Bach systematized this form and enhanced its completeness. Subsequently, Chopin completed the prelude as an independent work, and Debussy introduced preludes that reinterpret mythic or dreamlike images through music. Thus, it evolved into an artistic form that serves as a narrative trailer while leaving a strong impression in a short moment.
In the wine industry, product names often borrow musical terms. "Prelude" is one of them. As in the history of development of the prelude in music, it is considered an appropriate expression to encapsulate the meaning, expectations, and experimental spirit of a new beginning in a bottle of wine. A representative example is the "Prelude" from the renowned Champagne house Tattinger. True to its name, it plays a role in opening the atmosphere just before a celebratory gathering or a main course appetizer. Using musical terms in wine names also makes a bottle of wine appear as a work of art, making it easier to share the story and emotions contained within the wine with consumers.
The Rivera winery in southern Italy's Puglia region has also translated the musical concept of the prelude into wine. The wine is named "Preludio N.1 Chardonnay." The Italian expression of prelude is "Preludio." The name given by Rivera is close to a symbolic declaration. While Puglia is not known as a region synonymous with fine wines like Tuscany or Piemonte, this bottle proves the possibility of producing elegant and delicate Chardonnay in this area. In fact, Preludio N.1 is made from the Chardonnay variety that was first planted in this region.
In 1948, Sebastiano de Corato founded Rivera Winery and has continuously experimented to elevate the quality and status of Puglia wine. To break away from the image of mass production and leap to high-quality wine, he focused on winemaking based on indigenous varieties. Indeed, Puglia has been known since ancient times as the "Granary of Italy" due to its fertile and rich land. During the Roman Empire, it supplied grains and wines for the emperors, and in the Middle Ages, it served as a stronghold connecting Europe and the East due to its role in the Crusades.
Wine critic Robert Parker noted, "Rivera is one of the greatest wineries in Italy," adding, "it offers exceptional quality for the price, and for anyone starting with Puglia wine, it's the first wine they should try." Rivera is also a founding member of "Grandi Marchi," which represents Italy's premium wines. This organization, made up of 18 influential wineries in Italy, promotes Italian premium wine culture worldwide.
Rivera has repeatedly experimented with grape variety selection and cultivation methods to successfully transplant Chardonnay, originally from Burgundy in France, to the Puglia region. Through this, they discovered that the Murge hills in the Castel del Monte DOC area provide an ideal environment to aid the complete maturation of the Chardonnay variety. The highest area reaches 350 meters in elevation, with vineyard soil created by breaking down limestone formed from the seabed to a thickness of 1 meter. The region has a Mediterranean climate influenced by the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, characterized by hot and dry summers and cool, rainy winters.
Grapes are harvested between the second and third weeks of August each year. The harvested grapes are sorted and fermented in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 18°C for about 10 days, followed by aging with fine yeast for 3 to 4 months to enhance complexity and aromatic depth. At the same time, they undergo malolactic fermentation to achieve a soft texture and balanced acidity. The final wine is released the following spring.
Rivera Preludio N.1 Chardonnay is a yellow wine with a straw hue. It boasts a multilayered bouquet combining the aromas of peach blossom and pear. Fresh and rich fruit flavors fill the palate while maintaining complexity and offering a good length. It is not oak-aged, allowing the Chardonnay's inherent freshness and fruitiness to shine. While it retains the lively character typical of southern Italian Chardonnay, it is praised for balancing structure and elegance without overly emphasizing acidity. It pairs well with beef dishes, steamed fish, creamy pasta, and poultry.
In 2022, it received a score of 90 from wine critic "James Suckling." It won the grand award in the white wine category at the "Korea Wine & Spirits Awards 2025." It is officially imported and distributed domestically through NARA CELLAR.