2021 CELLARIO "il Baffone" Vino Bianco Frizzante

Region: Langhe < Piemonte < Italy

Grapes: Nascetta, Moscato Giallo

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Certified organic farming; marl and tuff soil, 350 meters altitude; 5 days in stainless steel before being bottled with conserved passito (late harvest) must to induce secondary fermentation. 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”.

Baffone (means big mustache!) is a blend of Nascetta (a rare native Piemontese varietal with excellent skins for maceration) and Moscato Giallo (a super aromatic varietal) vinified dry. This unusual grape combo makes a delightful bubbly elixir, lightly orange and hazy with pretty flowers, salty pear and juicy yellow nectarine wrapped around a core of electric acidity.  Super fun and easy for summer anytime sipping.