Langhe Nebbiolo Rosso Corallo 2023

The Vite Colte - Langhe Nebbiolo Rosso Corallo cuvée comes from the Langhe hills, in southern Piedmont, around Alba, a landscape of rolling slopes listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nebbiolo is grown here under certified organic farming, on marl-limestone and sandy soils. The continental climate, with hot summers, misty autumns and cool nights, favours slow ripening that reveals all the aromatic delicacy of this great Piedmontese grape variety.

The Nebbiolo grapes, harvested when ripe, are vinified traditionally, with a maceration of around twelve days at 25 °C to extract fruit and fine tannins without harshness. Malolactic fermentation follows and softens the texture. The wine is then aged for several months in stainless-steel tanks before bottling, a choice that favours drinkability and freshness rather than the imprint of oak.

This wine reveals notes of violet, cherry, raspberry, redcurrant, wild strawberry, clove, pepper and tobacco. The delicate, lightly spiced bouquet opens on flowers and red fruit. The harmonious, warm palate rests on fine, well-balanced tannins, before a finish with hints of cherry, tobacco and spice.

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!