Dirupi - Valtellina Superiore DOCG, Italy (2018)

The wine has a bright freshness of red flowers and cherries. The energy of the Alps comes through on the palate with dense tannins that are balanced with the freshness of its acidity. Underpinned by a savoury earthiness that does not distract from the wine's perfumed elegance.

In the steep hillsides of the alpine region of Lombardy near the Austrian border, you will find Davide Fasolini and Pierpaolo DiFranco producing their wine in a revitalized 16th century building. Friends from playing basketball and picking grapes together growing up, they have banded together on a mission to grow beautiful mountain wines in a sustainable way, using native yeasts certified and organic farming practices.

The altitude in Valtellina makes for harsh winters, and warmer summers, and methods such as placing large rocks throughout the vineyard help retain the heat from the day into the evening as the temperatures drop on the hillsides.

The vineyards for this Nebbiolo, locally known as Chiavennasca in the Valtellina, are found in terraces divided by stone walls that only allow for completely manual methods of maintenance and harvesting. The vines are grown on moraine soils, with certified organic farming practices, and are between 450-600 metres above sea level.

The maceration of the skins between 25-30 days, it ages in French oak barrels for at least 12 months, followed by resting 6 months in the bottle.