WHY WE CHOSE THIS WINE

Sparkling wines have been exploding in Piemonte for the last few years. Pietro Colla (b.1894) from Poderi Colla was one of the first to experiment with sparkling wine after studying the French methods and working with the Pinot Noir grape (unusual for the Langhe area). The Colla family has some of the oldest Pinot vines in the area. This unique passion has been passed on to the following generations of the family!

TASTING NOTES

Rich complex bouquet with crusty bread notes, white flowers and aromatic herbs. On the palate, bone dry, with important structure and a full body. It has a harmonious balanced acidity with hints of strawberry, bread crust, orange zest and ginger!

PAIRING WITH

A full course meal. Because this wine is a Blanc de Noirs (made from just red grapes) with Nebbiolo and also an Extra Brut (no res. sugar), it is more structured and dry than most sparkling wines. It can stand up to any dish according to Pietro Colla. The Colla family loves drinking this specifically with salty breaded and fried porcini mushrooms!

GRAPE VARIETAL: 90% Pinot Noir – 10% Nebbiolo

BOTTLES PRODUCED: 0 – 650 cases (depends on the vintage)

VINEYARD LOCATION: San Rocco Seno d’Elvio village, in Barbaresco production area.

ALTITUDE: 280 – 350 m

WINEMAKING: 2 years on the lees in bottle (Traditional method) with refill of the same wine (no liqueur di expedition)

AWARDS: 93 Points Wine Enthusiast

WHY WE CHOSE THIS WINE

A Riesling in the Langhe? Yes! Herzu’ means steep in the Piemontese dialect, like the location of where the Riesling vineyards are planted. Ettore Germano was one of the first to plant Riesling grapes back in 1995 (considered one of the pioneers!). Now there are over 20 producers making dry crisp examples often planted on cooler Northern exposures in the Barolo & Barbareco areas. However, Sergio thought outside the box and saw potential in the high altitude and soils comprised of lime and Langhe stones in a little town way up in Alta Langa. This was town was generally diregarded for its Dolcetto vineyards or hazelnuts. It is an interesting experience to taste a Riesling with a Langhe touch. Sergio is also one of the fighters for Stelvin caps, combatting against the “traditionalists” and prejudices. So open your minds and give it a try!

TASTING NOTES

Straw yellow with green tints. On the nose, tropical fruits with notes of savory herbs and minerality. On the palate, full-bodied with nice balance between important structure, fruit, minerality with a bit of residual sugar, giving it a very long finish.

PAIR WITH 

Baked or fresh oysters , baked salmon with anice.

GRAPE VARIETALS: 100% Riesling

BOTTLES PRODUCED: 1800 cases

VINEYARD LOCATION: Ciglie (not one of the Barolo townships)

ALTITUDE: 500 – 550 m

WINEMAKING:  Stainless- steel at low temps with no malolactic fermentation

DRINKING WINDOW: Drink now or hold

WHY WE CHOSE THIS WINE

We were only familiar with Le Piane’s famous Nebbiolo based wine – Boca from Northern Piemonte near Lago Maggiore. When the rep came with the whole range of wines, we weren’t expecting to be so impressed by the white! Erbaluce is one of the lesser known grapes in Piemonte which was first cited in a wine document in 1605. The local dialect calls the wine “Greco Bianco” which is why the letters are in Greek. Infact, it is thought to be related to Greco di Tufo, a well known white from Southern Italy. We loved the complexity and uniqueness of this wine and decided to add it to our shipment! We hope you enjoy it.

TASTING NOTES

A wine of great structure, with an open nose of dried Alpine flowers, pears, honey. On the palate it is delicate and savory with a nutty finish.

PAIRING WITH

Battered and fried trout or white truffle dishes.

TASTING NOTES

A wine of great structure, with an open nose of dried Alpine flowers, pears, honey. On the palate it is delicate and savory with a nutty finish.

GRAPE VARIETALS: 100% Erbaluce

BOTTLES PRODUCED: 650 cases

VINEYARDS LOCATION: Boca area

ALTITUDE: 360 – 570 m

WINEMAKING: Full cluster fermentation and aging in big barrels and cement.

DRINKING WINDOW: Drink now

WHY WE CHOSE THIS WINE

It might seem strange but this Roero Arneis is made by a small family run winery known for Barolo in the actual town of Barolo! Fiorella, a Roero girl (on the other side of the river) opened the winery after marrying her husband who was from Barolo. Sometimes here in Italy, it can even be like a type of dowry when one family member gets to inherit a prime vineyard site thanks  to a marriage! In this case, the Barolo family was able to add 2 fantastic Arneis wines from the sandy marine soils of Roero. Fiorella, who speaks no English, is often the one who does the tastings at the winery, and even though she can not verbally express her pride and love for the Arneis, you can read it in her eyes!

TASTING NOTES 

Fresh nose of green fruits like apples and pears with a certain mineral characteristic. On the palate, juicy and round with crisp finish.

PAIR WITH

A saffron risotto or a mild vegetable curry.

GRAPE VARIETALS: 100% Arneis

BOTTLES PRODUCED: 830 cases

VINEYARDS LOCATION: Castellinaldo in the vineyard named Bric Cenciurio (namesake of the winery) in the area of Roero

ALTITUDE: 220 – 250 m 

WINEMAKING: Grapes kept in baskets in the fridge at 0 C° for 10 days, fermentationatlow temperature

DRINKING WINDOW: Drink now

WHY WE CHOSE THIS WINE

There are few sparkling wines with such history as Francone in the Barbaresco area. The name Valsellera comes from the name Valley Scellera, the creek that runs down the valley. Fabrizio Francone’s grandfather has always loved Champagne and spent 60 years traveling back and forth to France, learning about the craft of the Traditional Method. The first sparkling wine the Francone’s made was in 1964 but not officially released until 1967! They still use the 55 year old pupitres that the grandfather brought back from France. Not only is this a lovely and fun wine to drink but it is made with passion and experience!

TASTING NOTES

Bouquet of raspberries and wild strawberries, with light spices, crusty bread and vani l la. Extremely drinkable, crisp on the palate with a persistent finish.

PAIRING WITH

An aperitif with charcuterie including prosciutto crudo and aged Parmigiano.

GRAPE VARIETALS: 100% Nebbiolo

BOTTLES PRODUCED: 290 cases

VINEYARDS LOCATION: Neive in Barbaresco area

ALTITUDE: 220 – 250 m

WINEMAKING: Brief maceration on the skins, at 16 degrees F’. Spends 18 months on the lees

AWARDS: Falstaff Sparkling Trophy 91 Pts

WHY WE CHOSE THIS WINE

This is a rare native white varietal from the village of Novello within the Barolo production zone. While whites like Arneis and Favorita were well-known and native to the Roero district (on the other side of the river), the Langhe district didn’t have its own white to claim until Valter from Elvio Cogno came along. He is thought to be one of the most important influencers in the “re-discovery” of this ancient white grape and gave the Langhe a white to call its own. Only approximately 25 wineries in the world make Nascetta and Cogno’s has become iconic!

TASTING NOTES

Anas-Cëtta has an intense straw yellow color with gold reflections. On the nose it is delicate and elegant, with nice intensity. Complex aromas of wild flowers and aromatic herbs, citrus and tropical fruit. On the palate, you can tas te acacia honey, sage and rosemary.

PAIR WITH

Pairs well with vegetarian dishes, white meat, fish and soft cheeses.

GRAPE VARIETAL: 100% Nascetta

BOTTLES PRODUCED: 1650 cases

VINEYARD LOCATION: Novello

ALTITUDE: 350 m

WINEMAKING: Brief maceration on the skins, at 16 degrees F’.Spends 18 months on the lees.

DRINKING WINDOW: Drink now or hold

AWARDS: 91 Points Vinous – Galloni