Our intuition brought us here as we searched for terroir with the soul to make outstanding Spumante wines.
We found it here, in the Versa Valley, the ideal climate for Pinot Nero after Champagne and Burgundy.
For the vignaiolo, there is no more significant ambition or achievement than the making of an excellent Pinot Nero. For our enologist, Giancarlo Tommasi, it has been a dream come true.
History
No one knows exactly why this small triangular wine region has remained so under the radar.
Maybe the name itself, Oltrepò, meaning (beyond the Pò River), evokes a sense of exile which cuts it off from northern Lombardy. Italians either call it the Tuscany of the north, or the old Piedmont.
No one knows exactly why this small triangular wine region has remained so under the radar.
Maybe the name itself, Oltrepò, meaning (beyond the Pò River), evokes a sense of exile which cuts it off from northern Lombardy. Italians either call it the Tuscany of the north, or the old Piedmont.
The Vineyards
The low environmental impact vineyards are in the northeastern area of Oltrepò Pavese at the southern tip of the Valle Versa, just south of the Po river, and cover 90 hectares of the 120-hectare estate.
The topography is varied in composition, altitude, climate and aspect and is rich with streams and rivers.
The most prized vineyards are of southern or southwestern exposure on the higher elevations, most suited to the sparkling production. The soil, predominantly clay with some chalk and limestone, gives the wines finesse and aromatic precision.
The Pinot Nero, Chardonnay and Moscato are vine-trained guyot with meticulous care to maintain the stringent quality standards and low yields.
