The Guarini Coccinella is the result of Aldo Viola's passion for Syrah. Convinced that the variety could deliver excellent results even in Sicily, if grown in well-ventilated, north-facing locations, he embarked on a search over two decades ago and found the perfect spot in Feudo Guarini, a tiny ...
While Syrah plays a significant role also in the Moretto, it shares this status equally with Perricone and Nerello Mascalese. The latter has gained recognition beyond Sicily, thanks to the success stories of Etna wines. Perricone, however, remains relatively unknown, though that will soon change....
The Guarini Plus is a result of Aldo Viola's passion for Syrah. He was convinced that the variety could produce excellent results in Sicily when grown in well-ventilated, north-facing vineyards. So, over two decades ago, he set out in search of the perfect site and found it in Feudo Guarini, a ti...
Although Aldo Viola's home is in Sicily, he frequently looks beyond the island, especially towards France. This is made easier by his personal connection, as he has lived there several times and practically absorbed the language with his mother's milk (his mother is from France).
The Saignée is a...
Carmenère originally comes from Bordeaux. There, this red grape variety once contended for the top spot in quality with Cabernet Sauvignon, before disappearing entirely from the French wine region as a consequence of the phylloxera invasion and the difficulty in finding suitable rootstocks for i...
Filippo Gamba consistently produces top-quality wines, and his two interpretations of the Terreni Bianchi — from white, limestone-rich soil — on the western slopes of the Colli Euganei are excellent examples of this. The white version is taut, direct, and profound, and similar praise can be give...
Brine d’Aprile succeeded Il Gheppio in 2020. The latter was primarily based on an old planting of Cabernet Sauvignon vines, but—like many other regions, Emilia is not immune to the invasion of allochthonous insects—it fell victim to the American grapevine leafhopper, which wiped it out completel...
Sgavetta is a grape variety found exclusively around Modena and Reggio Emilia. It was first documented in the late 19th century and has always been described positively in the few records that exist about it. In 1970, a total of 170 hectares were planted with this variety, but by 2010, the area ...
Vasche, to which Luca Virgilio's Montepulciano pays tribute, are ancient basins that were carved into the rocks around Pietranico thousands of years ago to crush grapes with feet. Although Luca does not do this, he is aware of the long history of viticulture around his winery, which was complete...
Bramaterra: A Northern Classic
High up in the north, where Piedmont gently knocks on Switzerland’s door, lies Bramaterra, an ancient wine enclave with a winemaking history documented over centuries. Before Bramaterra was designated a DOC in 1979, the wine of the region was known as “Vino dei Cano...
Data sheet
Grape variety: Nebbiolo
Plant protection: only sulphur, copper and plant or animal-based preparations, not certified
Vineyard: single vineyard site Cavazucchi. Soil with a high iron and manganese content, covered by a layer of marine sand
Harvest: by hand
Fermentation: spontaneous |...
With just 18 hectares of vineyards, Lessona is the smallest of the three DOC zones in which the Colomberas own vineyards. Despite its microscopic dimensions, Lessona has a few special features that set it apart from the other two regions. Firstly, there is the climate, which in some exposures tak...
A few decades ago, Coste della Sesia still had a few hundred hectares of vines, but today there are a whole thirty. The reason for this was not the quality of the wines, which have been repeatedly praised in the annals of local viticulture since the 14th century, but the general rural exodus that...
Vespolina: A Rare Star in the Spotlight
Giacomo Colombera and Cristiano Garella’s latest project shines a spotlight on Vespolina, a grape variety that typically plays a supporting role in the Nebbiolo blends of northern Piedmont. This time, however, Vespolina takes center stage—and it’s no surpr...
El Matt by Daniele Ricci: A Playful Ode to Croatina
Croatina is a Piedmontese-Lombard grape variety that can form the foundation for excellent red wines and is highly recommended to every wine enthusiast. The challenge, however, lies in determining whether a wine labeled as Croatina genuinely con...