A great new southern Italian red made entirely from the Aglianico grape, which makes wines that are often referred to as the Nebbiolo of the south. 

Ever heard of Pelaverga?

It's not exactly a household name, even in the households of wine lovers. It is the name of a red grape grown in Piemonte in north west Italy. Even in its homeland there, it's pretty rare, and best known for making light, smooth fruity reds, such as this one, which is an interesting different take on northern Italian red wine.

Prosecco DOC NV
Glera 100%
Vegetarian, Vegan, Sparkling

Italian Federico Martinotti developed and patented a method of sparkling wine production in 1895, involving secondary fermentation in
tank. Although Eugène Charmat developed this further in the early 1900s, lending his name to the process (also known as 'cuve close' or 'tank
method'), in Italy it is still known as Metodo Martinotti.

PRODUCTION
Produced from selected parcels of Glera grapes grown north-east of Treviso. They are harvested at optimum ripeness to give a balance between acidity and fresh fruit character. The grapes undergo gentle pneumatic pressing followed by slow, cool fermentation in stainless steel. Second fermentation takes place in tank over a period of 4 weeks.

TASTING NOTE
A fresh and gently fruity fizz with citrus and green apple aromas, ripe grapey fruit characters and a zesty finish.

FOOD MATCH
Perfect aperitif or celebration wine!

Masseria Li Veli Orion Primitivo is an exceptional red wine hailing from the sun-drenched vineyards of Puglia, Italy. Crafted with meticulous care by the renowned Masseria Li Veli winery, this Primitivo showcases the rich heritage and vibrant flavours of the region. The combination of ample sunshine, cooling sea breezes from the Adriatic and Ionian seas, and the region’s unique terroir allows Masseria Li Veli to produce high-quality Primitivo that truly reflects the character of Salento.

With its deep ruby hue, Orion Primitivo offers an enticing bouquet of ripe red berries, plums, and hints of spice. On the palate, it delivers a full-bodied experience with velvety tannins and a harmonious balance of fruit and earthy notes. Perfect for pairing with hearty Italian cuisine or enjoyed on its own

This fabulous Italian red is old school Barolo with a modern twist; clean, bright and fresh with savoury, earthy flavour notes and a truffly overtone that says Piemonte and Nebbiolo in every lingering sip.

Castellero is a 0.4 hectare vineyard, situated between Bussia and Cannubi, which produces wine full of earthy freshness and flavours of roasted mushrooms, porcini supported by a firm backbone of refreshing floral notes and firm acidity, which provides this wine with its long finish. 

The winemaking is considered traditional. Long macerations of up to 40 days see the wine go through a natural fermentation without added yeast in steel tanks. It was then aged for 30 months in Slavonian oak barrels. It's old school with a modern twist; clean, bright and fresh with savoury, earthy flavour notes and a truffly overtone that says Piemonte and Nebbiolo in every lingering sip.

What the critics say

Wine Enthusiast - 94 points

"Rose, wild berry, baking-spice aromas mingle with whiffs of menthol. Linear and structured, the vibrant palate delivers raspberry, orange zest, cinnamon and tobacco set against tightly knit, refined tannins while bright acidity keeps it balanced and energized. Drink 2024–2036."

Vinious Media - 93+ points

"The 2016 Barolo Castellero captures so much of what makes this site special. Mint, lavender, blood orange, raspberry and chalk notes give he 2016 striking aromatic brightness to play off its translucent, mid-weight feel. A wine of tremendous fascinating complexity, the Castellero will delight readers who enjoy classically-built Barolos. The Castellero is perhaps not quite as deep as the most complete wines in this lineup, but that is really splitting hairs at this level."

James Suckling - 93 points

"Aromas of strawberries and spices and hints of wet earth follow through to a medium body with firm, silky tannins and a long, driven finish, Better after 2022."

Giacomo Fenocchio's winemaking philosophy

Giacomo Fenocchio is regarded as one of the best Barolo producers today. Here's a piece that sums up why he is so highly respected and what makes his wines an authentic expression of Piemonte as a wine region.

"Claudio Fenocchio took over from his father Giacomo in 1989 – probably the moment of greatest pressure to follow the ‘modern’ winemaking path of short fermentations and aging in new barriques. In fact, it’s difficult now to understand how much pressure was exerted – from peers and neighbors, old and young, from the press, importers, customers, and that mysterious thing called “the market”. It took a strong will to resist, and a strong devotion to tradition. Lucky for us that Claudio stuck with the best of tradition – organic farming, long fermentations, and aging in large Slavonian oak casks. Easy for us too, since we get to drink his wines. Here’s a rare group of Fenocchio bottles spanning the generations, and ending with the beautiful 2016s."

From Chalmers Street Wine

Tornatore’s Etna Rosso is a medium-bodied Sicilian wine with beautiful personality, aromas of wild berries, black cherries and spices, and a full, savory and juicy mouthfeel. It matures for about 12 months in large barrels and is characterized by excellent value for money.

VARIETY: Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio.

ETNA PRODUCTION AREA: northern slope in the municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia

GROWTH SYSTEM: Counter-espalier

PRUNING SYSTEM: Spurred Cordon

YIELD PER HECTARE: 70 qli

TIME OF HARVEST: 2nd and 3rd decade of October

AGING: About 6 months in large wooden barrels and about 3 months in bottle

Vinification
Grapes harvested by hand in small crates are brought quickly to the winery and undergo manual selection on a belt. De-stemmed and not totally crushed, they are sent to concrete tanks, where they macerate for about 10/12 days at a temperature of 22/25°C. Once fermentation is finished, the grapes are left to macerate for a few more days after which they are racked and pressed using a traditional vertical press.

Organoleptic Characteristics
Light ruby red with faint purplish reflections they, typical of the variety that is not very rich in color. Hints of small red fruits, morello cherry, black cherry are evident on the nose. The palate is distinguished by its typical balanced tannicity and surprising fullness, savoriness and length.

Gavi is a wonderfully, mineral-driven white wine made in and around the eponymous township in south east Piemonte. The only difference between 'Gavi DOCG' and 'Gavi di Gavi DOCG' is that the latter can only be made of fruit grown within the borders of the Commune or township.  Other than that, they're identical wines and, more importantly, utterly delicious!  With its characteristic greenish tinge and notes of acacia flowers and green apple, it delivers a mineral-laden yet fruity wine with a bitter almond finish that pairs beautifully with all manner of dishes.

Tasty Tuscan rosso with ripe lush red berry flavours in a soft, smooth and succulent, blend, made mostly of Tuscany's great Sangiovese with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon to add structure and a commanding presence. Affordably delicious wine for drinking now and over the next two years. 

It's named after the Villa di Remole in Tuscany, which has been owned by the Fresobaldi family for over 700 years. 

The wine is aged four months in stainless steel and two months in bottle, prior to release.

This Lazio Vermentino IGT from Castello di Torre in Pietra is aged in steel tanks for about 3 months and offers a crystalline, vibrant and organic expression of the aromatic Vermentino grape.

A straw yellow colour in the glass opens with a nose of white fruit and ripe peach, broom and aromatic herbs. The palate it is full-bodied, fresh, savoury and with typically marine mineral traces.

This beautiful dry Italian white wine comes from the dramatic valley of the Valle d'Aosta in the cool north where the Petite Arvine grape grows at 550 metres above seal level, retaining bright piercing acidity and creating wines of great drive and length. 

This wine is made from grapes grown on the Rovettaz vineyard, which has a sharp inclination and is exposed to the south, enjoying a dry and windy climate. This wine tastes of white floral and citrus flavours with intense pink grapefruit notes and a great acid structure which allows this wine to retain freshness and age for the long term. It also drinks beautifully now, especially with seafood and white cheese.

Petite Arvine was first planted at Grosjean, in the early 1980s on highly sandy soils with a medium limestone content. They have been organically farmed since 2011, and had to be irrigated for their first three years of life because drought is always a potential problem in this region. The vineyard sits at 550 metres above sea level and has a 70% slope, so the family needed to build terraces to carry out normal vineyard work and harvesting. Depending on the vintage, the grapes are normally picked in October. The wine is currently aged partly in steel and partly in oak, 70% stainless steel and 30% used barriques, but vintages of the 1990s and early 2000s saw no oak aging at all. 

This great white is made from one of Italy’s oldest known white grape varieties – and undoubtedly one of its best, Verdicchio. This grape originates either in the Marché region on central Italy’s east coast or it comes from the Veneto region in the north. It’s found in both regions but goes under different names in each (as Verdicchio or as Trebbiano). Those details aside, Verdicchio makes wines with intense lemon flavours, a medium to full body and lingering finish, due to its relatively high acidity. The best Verdicchio can age well for up to a decade.

Garofoli’s Podium shows another side to Italian wine; it’s a complex dry white for drinking now and can also undoubtedly age well. Try it. 

The Casalforte Valpolicella Superiore DOC by Riondo is a red wine that encapsulates the elegance and richness of the Veneto region. This is a refined creation from the hills of Valpolicella, known for its fertile soil and ideal climate that promote the optimal ripening of the grapes.

Valpolicella Superiore is primarily produced from three native grape varieties: Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara. This particular cuvée undergoes a process of partial drying, which gives the wine a more concentrated and aromatic structure. The result is a wine of considerable depth and complexity, with an alcohol content of around 14%.

Visually, the Casalforte Valpolicella Superiore DOC has an intense ruby red color with purple reflections. On the nose, it unfolds a rich aromatic bouquet with notes of ripe cherry, plum, spices, and a subtle hint of chocolate and vanilla, evidence of its maturation in barrique. On the palate, the wine is velvety and warm, with a perfect harmony between acidity and soft tannins that weave into a persistent and rewarding finish.

A deep and dense expression of the Montepulciano grape offering fabulous drinking at a great price with bright fruit notes and soft sweet tannins. The winery is biodynamic with Demeter certification.

The Ovello site has more clay, and the resulting wines are plump and fruit forward meaning they often drink earlier, as well as being super age worthy too. Classic ripe cherry notes that develop autumnal qualities and  more of the tar and spice that Barbaresco is famous for with age.

Ovello is one of the great red wines of Italy and is made entirely from the great structured red grape, Nebbiolo; exceptional in taste, complexity and its ability to age for at least a decade, evolving into a silky delicious wine over this time. It's made by the Produttori del Barbaresco. This highly respected winery cooperative was founded in 1958 and now has 51 members who collectively own approximately 100 hectares of the entire appellation, which means they own approximately a seventh of the appellation. The single vineyard wines, such as this one, are only made in highly rated vintages (all of the grapes go into a blend in other years) and released after four years maturation in the riserva programme.

All single vineyard cru wines from Produttori del Barbaresco are fermented at 30°C and given 32 days of skin contact time before being pressed in large oak barrels for 36 months of matu