La Bollina (Piedmont)
SEPTEMBER 2024
In northwest Italy in the rolling foothills of the Alps is the renowned wine region of Piedmont, most famous for its King of Wines – Barolo – made of the noble grape Nebbiolo, an expensive, complex red that can age for decades. Normally the wines from this part of Italy are too pricey to showcase in our everyday wine club.... until now.
La Bollina is an estate (marked on the map with a star) in the sub-region of Gavi, known for its fresh, dry, minerally white wine made from the Cortese grape (native to Piedmont). They also cultivate Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Barbera (the everyday table red for locals), and Nebbiolo. For this month's club, we'll feature their Gavi and their Barbera. So fun to be able to feature wines from this preeminent Italian wine region. Enjoy!
Once a summer residence for the Marquises Figari of Genova, the La Bollina estate covers 120 hectares of rolling hills with 33 hectares of vineyards. The white grapes are grown in marley-clay soils on southwest slopes. The red grapes are grown in the red soils of the hills near Novi Ligure and mainly face south. Since employing the up-and-coming oenologist, Andrea Bernardini, the estate has made investments in their vineyards, equipment and in a new cellar, with a focus on "clean, well-balanced modern wines deeply rooted in the local area".
A LITTLE ABOUT PIEDMONT
Piedmont has the Alps to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south with lots of forest in between. Only about 30% of the region has vineyards. Piedmont is often compared to Bordeaux, but it has colder winters, less rain, and it is known for fog resting through its vineyards and valleys.
Piedmont is also known for its hearty culinary traditions which feature truffles, wild boar, savory pastries, pâté and its amazing gnocchi. Check out the above photo which the winery posted from the Nebbiolando Festival in 2023.
In addition to the fancy Nebbiolo from Barolo, Barbaresco, Langhe, Roero & more, and their table wine Barbera (known for its medium-body, earthy-cherry flavors and notable acidity), Piedmont also grows lesser-known reds such as Dolcetto & Ruchè. In addition to the white grape Cortese from DOCG Gavi, the delicious, tricky-to-produce grape Arneis comes from vineyards in Roero, a sub-region of Piedmont.
La Bollina 2023 Gavi
Piedmont, Italy • Reg $18.99 | WINE CLUB $14.99 | Mixed Case $11.99
100% Cortese from DOCG Gavi in eastern Piedmont (pictured above). Nose of white flowers, stewed rhubarb (ready to add to jam). Taste = white plums, pears, citrus with a dry, herbal finish. Great wine. Perfect for your end of summer pesto pasta, dishes with scallops, trout almondine... and as the weather cools: chicken pot pie or pork medallions with mustard sauce. Drink now to 1 year.
La Bollina 2022 Minetta Barbera
Piedmont, Italy • Reg $18.99 | Wine Club $14.99 | Mixed Case $11.99
100% Barbera from Monferrato. Black and red plums on the nose, black cherries, herbs. Medium-bodied. Smoother dark fruit on the palate: purple plums, black cherries, blackberries. Earthy, herbal notes. Fresh on the finish. Great with pizza, pasta. We had a dry-aged (28 days) hanger steak off the grill with summer veggies from the farmers market: yellow cauliflower, zucchini, garlic, tomatoes, green onions. Terrific. Drink now to 2 years.
For the first time in 20 years, we found a Piedmont wine club for our everyday club. We hope you enjoy these wines. We think they are terrific. Especially for the price!
See you at your Pickup Tasting — always the second Saturday of the month.
Cheers,
Jens Strecker, Owner
Portalis Wine Shop