2018 Alessandra Divella 'Nini'

Place: Franciacorta - Lombardy, Italy

Variety: Chardonnay/Pinot Noir

Farming: Organic

Alessandra organically farms 1.5ha of chardonnay and .5ha of pinot noir in Franciacorta, planted to varying proportions of limestone and clay, producing a mere 580 cases each year. Ferments occur naturally, not a single adjustment is made, nor are sulphur or dosage added. Each cuvee ages on lees for a minimum of two years, with some hibernating for up to five. The resulting wines are remarkably elegant and nuanced, truly capable of rivalling the great growers of Champagne in both detail and ageability.

This saline-packed sparkling reminded Alessandra so much of her father, who grew up basking in the salty and misty air of the port city of Bari, that she named this cuvée after him. A powerhouse of a zero/zero Franciacorta that brings complexity, depth, and a lingering finish. This mineral-driven wine also evokes notes of bruised fruit and a lightly oxidative quality.