Place: Casalese Monferrato — Piedmont, Italy

Variety: Grignolino

Farming: Organic

Ermanno Accornero leads the fifth generation at the helm of this iconic Monferrato address. Known for producing generous barbera and scintillating grignolino that can rival the perfume of their Langhe neighbours, the grapes are organically farmed over soils that have varying proportions of clay limestone throughout.

Grignolino is not a grape that headlines the Italian vinous concert, which is a shame because, in the right hands, it makes a light, floral, pleasantly tannic wine that pairs wonderfully with fatty dishes. Ermanno handles it deftly, making an outstanding example, overshadowed only by its old-vine sibling, the ethereal Vigne Vecchie.