Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG 2024

Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG comes from the Canavese, north of Turin, on the morainic hills left by ancient glaciers that form the amphitheatre of Ivrea down to the shores of Lake Viverone. These free-draining, poor sandy and gravelly soils and the proximity of the Alps give the Erbaluce grape slow ripening and lovely natural acidity. Based in Gattinara, in Alto Piemonte, the Antoniolo family, renowned for its long-lived Nebbiolo, crafts here a pure, luminous white version of this historic appellation.

The Erbaluce grapes are harvested ripe and then vinified in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks to preserve all the aromatic freshness of the variety. The wine then continues its ageing for about five months in the same tanks, with no oak. True to the house philosophy, founded on respect for the vine and the grape, winemaking remains low-intervention to let the purity of the fruit and the vivacity of a precise, easy-drinking Piedmontese white shine through.

This wine reveals notes of yellow apple, pear, peach, apricot, lime, chamomile, white flowers, fresh herbs and flint. The delicate, expressive nose combines white-fleshed fruit, floral touches and a mineral nuance. The palate is fresh and taut, light- to medium-bodied, driven by lively acidity that extends a clean, slightly saline 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!