2019 CELLARIO "il Barrusco" Rosso Frizzante

Region: Langhe < Piemonte < Italy

Grapes: Neretta, Barbera, Dolcetto

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Certified organic farming; marl and tuff soil, 350 meters altitude; primary fermentation in stainless steel before re-fermentation in bottle. No sulfur added and no disgorgement; zero-zero; 11.5% ABV

Winemaker: Fausto Cellario

The Cellario family takes joy in their native surroundings of the hills around Carrù in Piemonte, and make an effort to channel the environment around them through in their wines. With a history in the region that spans generations, they ultimately they feel that the wines reflect themselves as well. They work only with native grapes for this reason, farm organically and are hands off in the cellar. No new is wood allowed, and only minimal sulfur added at bottling. The elevation is high here, and the soil is predominately marl, combined with some tuff. Marl, the typical clay-based Piemonte soil type, adds acid to resulting wines, and the tuff, which is of volcanic origin, adds a smokey quality. While the Cellario’s vineyard holdings include esteemed Piemonte sites, they choose to adopt a philosophy they describe as “wine of the people”.

The Barrusco (translates to something like 'rough and tumble') is a blend of Neretta (a super rare native Piemontese variety prized for its dark color and spicy tannins), plus the usual red suspects of the region - Barbera + Dolcetto.  Its made in a lightly sparkling style, similar to a Lambrusco, and drinks along those lines.  Bone dry, tart, some friendly tannins and searing acidity that will cut through the fat of anything you want to throw at it.  Pizza, you bet.  Salumi, cheese, nuts -- oh yeah.  And a rich pasta like Bolognese -- bring it on!