Gianni Gagliardo Fallegro Langhe Favorita 2023

Fallegro is a Langhe Favorita DOC from Poderi Gianni Gagliardo, a Piedmont house. The grapes come from vineyards in the Roero area, north-west of Alba. Favorita, the Piedmontese version of Vermentino, is grown here far from the sea, in a continental climate and on sandy soils that give it freshness and salinity.

Born in 1974, Fallegro was among the very first wines made from Favorita. The harvest takes place in early September. The grapes, complemented by 5% of another grape variety, undergo partial maceration, and only 10% of the wine goes through malolactic fermentation in order to preserve its liveliness. The wine is then aged 8 months on the lees, which gives it texture and complexity.

This wine reveals notes of peach, lime, pomelo, linden blossom, pear, fennel, sage and wet stone. The fresh nose combines white-fleshed fruit, citrus and floral and herbaceous nuances. The fresh, saline palate stretches into a lively, precise finish.

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!