At the table with Nizza Riserva La Luna e i Falò 2019
Beef braised in Barbera, herbed leg of lamb, wild boar stew, tajarin with truffle, aged pecorino.
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Nizza Riserva La Luna e i Falò 2019Quick Colte
The Vite Colte - Nizza Riserva La Luna e i Falò cuvée comes from the Nizza appellation, the most prestigious area for Barbera, around Nizza Monferrato, in the Monferrato of Asti, in south-eastern Piedmont. The vines take root in alkaline Tertiary-era limestone soils, poor in organic matter and dry in summer. They occupy a small area of two to three hectares, in a continental climate with hot summers, ideal for the full ripening of Barbera.
Yields are very low, around one and a half kilos of grapes per vine, to obtain a concentrated wine, rich in extract and colouring matter. The grapes, picked slightly overripe, are vinified traditionally with long skin maceration, followed by malolactic fermentation. Ageing lasts twelve months in barrels, then a further twelve months in large oak vats (foudres). This Riserva is only produced in the best vintages.
This wine reveals notes of blackberry, blackcurrant, raspberry, blueberry, vanilla, caramel, coconut and coffee. The rich, complex bouquet blends red and black forest fruits with gourmand oak notes. The elegant, well-balanced palate is broad and dense, carried by smooth tannins and a persistent finish of blueberry and coffee.
All about Nizza Riserva La Luna e i Falò 2019
At what temperature should Nizza Riserva La Luna e i Falò 2019 be served?
Between 16 and 18 °C. An hour in a decanter helps it open up.
How long can Nizza Riserva La Luna e i Falò 2019 be kept?
Ageing potential: 10 years or more, until at least 2029. Store the bottle lying down, away from light, at around 12 °C.
Which grapes make up Nizza Riserva La Luna e i Falò 2019?
Grapes: 100% Barbera. Origin: Piedmont, Italy. Alcohol: 15%.
What to serve with Nizza Riserva La Luna e i Falò 2019?
Nizza Riserva La Luna e i Falò 2019 pairs well with lamb, beef, hard cheese and game. Our dish ideas are in the food pairing box at the top of the page.
Where are we traveling?
MonferratoItaly
It is located in southern Piedmont, in northwest Italy, stretching between the banks of the Po to the north and the first foothills of the Ligurian Apennines to the south, an hour's drive southeast of Turin. The vineyard unfolds over an enchanting landscape of gentle, rolling hills, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2014, between 150 and 500 meters above sea level, dotted with perched medieval villages, crenelated castles, and Romanesque churches that bear witness to a thousand-year history. Viticulture has been attested there since Roman antiquity, but it was in the Middle Ages that the great noble Piedmontese families — the Gonzagas, the Palaiologos, the Savoys — structured the vineyard around their strongholds, making wine an economic and cultural pillar of the region. Long overshadowed by its illustrious neighbors Barolo and Barbaresco, Monferrato experienced a spectacular renaissance starting in the 1980s, when a generation of passionate winemakers rediscovered the potential of its indigenous grape varieties and its hilly terroirs, until then dedicated to peasant and confidential viticulture. The climate is temperate continental, characterized by hot and dry summers, misty autumns conducive to late harvests, and harsh winters, with a Mediterranean influence that rises through the Ligurian valleys and brings an unexpected mildness for such a northern latitude. The soils alternate between calcareous marls, clays, tuffs, and sands of marine origin, remnants of an ancient sea that covered the Po plain millions of years ago. Monferrato has established itself as a treasure of Piedmontese diversity thanks to its generous and juicy Barbera, its delicate and peppery Grignolino, its fragrant and slightly sparkling Freisa, its spicy and captivating Ruché — a very rare grape variety of which Castagnole Monferrato is the exclusive stronghold — and its sparkling and golden Moscato d'Asti, offering a range of wines of a variety and authenticity that few regions in the world can match.
The little history of the country
Italy
Ah, Italy, what a beautiful, hedonistic country, the land of la dolce vita, but how difficult it is to understand its wine industry! The key to understanding the appellation system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous nation, as each region has its own appellation system. Italy can offer wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, bottles brimming with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless, characterless wines sold under their most commercially useful and prestigious name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco, and many others... But let's talk a little history. Viticulture in Italy dates back to antiquity and originated in Greece. The Etruscans are said to have introduced the vine, and Greek immigrants improved and modified the grape varieties, subsequently calling the country "Oenotria": the land of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life, and certain regions already distinguished themselves by the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible mark of their conquest. Today, Italy is the world's largest wine producer, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic zones. The northern mountains have a rather harsh mountain climate. The plains of the "central boot" are characterized by a continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the southern part of the Italian boot, the Mediterranean climate prevails, with very hot and dry summers, not forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In short, Italy produces a wide variety of wines thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originated in its own lands. It is a country as complex as its wines, which deserve to be explored!