Fontanafredda
Alta Langa Limited Edition Brut 2022
Other years:
2021| Denomination | DOCG Alta Langa |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 12.5% by volume |
| Area | Piedmont (Italy) |
| Grape varieties | 57% Pinot Nero, 41% Chardonnay, 2% Nebbiolo |
| Aging | Minimum 30 months' ageing on the lees, disgorgement September 2026 |
| Other years | 2021 |
- Denomination and style: Alte Langhe Classic Method Sparkling Wine, 12.5% vol
- Grape composition: 67% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 3% Nebbiolo for Piedmontese character
- Ageing: 30 months on the lees; limited production with fine and persistent bubbles
- Tasting profile: hints of honey, white peach, grapefruit and basil; dry and savoury taste
- Pairings and service: ideal for aperitifs, starters, shellfish and lean fish; serve at 6–8 °C
Description
The Elegance of the Piedmontese Traditional Method
The Alta Langa Limited Edition Brut by Fontanafredda is a refined Piedmontese Traditional Method wine that harmoniously blends Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and a touch of Nebbiolo. An authentic expression of the prestigious Alta Langa denomination, this wine stands out for its elegant aromatic profile, dominated by notes of honey, white-fleshed peach, grapefruit and basil. On the palate, it is dry, savoury and pleasantly citrusy, supported by an extremely fine and enveloping perlage that leads to a long and persistent finish. Ideal for enhancing dishes based on lean fish and shellfish, it offers fresh yet structured drinkability, the result of a masterful secondary fermentation in the bottle.
The Terroir of the Langa Hills
This wine is born in the heart of Piedmont, along the historic Langa Hills, stretching between the provinces of Asti, Alessandria and Cuneo. The vineyards, Guyot-trained, enjoy a privileged south and south-easterly exposure, situated at an altitude between 250 and 500 metres above sea level. The soil is characterised by clay-limestone marl, a fundamental geological composition that imparts distinct savouriness and structure to the taste profile. The temperate climate of this altimetric belt favours optimal ripening, guaranteeing the natural acidity essential for the production of an excellent Traditional Method wine.
The Long Wait on the Lees
The production process begins between late August and early September with harvesting in small crates, followed by a soft pressing of the bunches. The resulting must undergoes static settling and ferments in stainless steel tanks at a strictly controlled temperature. After a few months resting on the fine lees, the cuvée is expertly blended by selecting the best crus. The secondary fermentation takes place directly in the bottle following the Traditional Method, followed by ageing for thirty months on its own lees. This long rest in cool, dark cellars allows the wine's complex aromatic texture to fully develop.
History and curiosities
The historic Fontanafredda winery presents a fascinating expression of the Langa Hills. The great curiosity of this Limited Edition lies in its peculiar composition, which enhances Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with the unexpected touch of three per cent Nebbiolo, imparting a unique territorial identity. The rigorous Traditional Method demands profound patience: resting on the lees continues for thirty months in the dark, cool cellars. The long journey culminates with the scheduled disgorgement in September two thousand and twenty-six, shaping an Alta Langa DOCG of immense prestige.
Tasting notes
Perlage
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
06 - 08 °C
Longevity:
05 - 10 years
- Start up year: 1878
- Oenologist: Giorgio Lavagna
- Bottles produced: 7.000.000
- Hectares: 120
Like all beautiful things, Fontanafredda originates from a love story between the first King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II, and Rosa Vercellana.
Producers of Barolo and sumptuous wines of the Langhe, it was the scene of many firsts: they were the first Barolo to go overseas, the first to produce the first Classic Method in 1959, which was to be the forerunner of Alta Langa.
The founding principle of the winery is the concept of community.
Since 2018, Fontanafredda has been cultivating 120 organically certified hectares that are the setting for Italy's first Storytelling Village ('Villaggio Narrante'), which is still home to 12 families of workers who make the village an authentic village, alive and productive.
Fontanafredda is also hospitality, a meeting place where everyone is welcome thanks to its 4-star hospitality.
Today, the company preserves intact the testimonies of its noble past - the hunting lodge, the village, the extensive cellars, the vineyards - but continues to renew itself and experiment, perfecting what nature and history have handed down. For this reason, in the Langhe, where vines and wine bind generations to each other and shape the landscape, Fontanafredda is an essential reference point. The expression of a wine culture that comes from the earth, from the vineyard, and is refined through the work and creativity of people.
In 2021, the Alta Langa DOCG Contessa Rosa Rosé 2014 was named 'Best Sparkling Wine in the World' according to Tastingbook 2021.
In 2022 the BAROLO SERRALUNGA 2018 entered the TOP100 of WINE SPECTATOR in 78th place. Read more
| Name | Fontanafredda Alta Langa Limited Edition Brut 30 Mesi 2022 |
|---|---|
| Type | White green classic method sparkling wine brut |
| Denomination | Alta Langa DOCG |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 12.5% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 57% Pinot Nero, 41% Chardonnay, 2% Nebbiolo |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Piedmont |
| Vendor | Fontanafredda |
| Story | History and curiosities The historic Fontanafredda winery presents a fascinating expression of the Langa Hills. The great curiosity of this Limited Edition lies in its peculiar composition, which enhances Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with the unexpected touch of three per cent Nebbiolo, imparting a unique territorial identity. The rigorous Traditional Method demands profound patience: resting on the lees continues for thirty months in the dark, cool cellars. The long journey culminates with the scheduled disgorgement in September two thousand and twenty-six, shaping an Alta Langa DOCG of immense prestige. |
| Origin | Langhe hills |
| Soil composition | Clayey-calcareous marl |
| Cultivation system | Tablemount |
| Plants per hectare | 5,000 vines/ha |
| Harvest | From late August to early September |
| Fermentation temperature | 18 to 20 °C |
| Fermentation | 30 months |
| Production technique | Traditional Method (bottle fermentation) |
| Wine making | Harvesting in crates of approximately 20 kg and soft pressing; must in temperature-controlled tanks for static settling, then fermentation in stainless steel at 18–20 °C. Resting on fine lees for several months (95% stainless steel, 5% wood); blending of the cuvée from selected crus, secondary fermentation in the bottle and maturation on the lees in cool, dark cellars according to the Classic Method. |
| Aging | Minimum 30 months' ageing on the lees, disgorgement September 2026 |
| Residual sugar | 3.0 gr/L |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |