Giacomo Colombera and Cristiano Garella's latest project, Vespolina, puts the spotlight on a grape variety that usually plays a leading but only minor role in the Nebbiolo cuvées of Piedmont's north. This time, however, it has all the attention and knows how to make the most of it - and that is not really surprising.
For one thing, Cristiano and Giacomo are two excellent winemakers and for another, Vespolina is a variety that has everything it needs to succeed on the big stage: Tannins and acidity, but above all a variety of flavours that make even its much more famous relative (Nebbiolo is an ancestor) look old.
Stylistically, it leaves all possibilities open - it works perfectly both as a profound table wine and as an elaborate fine wine. The two have opted for the former. They ferment their Vespolina grapes spontaneously and macerate them only briefly at not too high temperatures. The wine is matured in steel tanks. The wine is not fined or filtered.
Style & flavours
Pepper, roses, dark berries and Mediterranean herbs. Full-bodied, intense and dense. Drinkable from start to finish. The tannins are structured, round and never aggressive, the acidity gives direction without pushing itself to the fore. Finishes peppery, juicy and persistent.
Data sheet
Grape variety: 100% Vespolina
Plant protection: only sulphur, copper and plant or animal-based preparations, not certified
Vineyard: at approx. 400 metres in highly ferruginous subsoil covered by a layer of marine sand
Harvest: by hand
Fermentation: spontaneous | wild yeasts in stainless steel tanks
Ageing: 6 months in stainless steel
Filtration: no
SO₂: 50mg/litre
Alcohol content: 12.5 % vol
Closure: Natural cork
Drinking temperature: 15-17 °C
Perfect drinking maturity: from now - 2028
Content and price per litre: 0.75 l/(€19.87/l)
All the winegrowers listed on Vinonudo work with compost, organic fertilisers and natural preparations in their vineyards and do not use herbicides, pesticides or artificial fertilisers.
