Contratto
Alta Langa Bacco d'Oro Brut 2021
| Denomination | DOCG Alta Langa |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 12.5% by volume |
| Area | Piedmont (Italy) |
| Grape varieties | 80% Pinot Nero, 20% Chardonnay |
| Aging | Approximately 48 months on the lees. Bottling: about 9 months after the harvest. |
- Style and vintage: Classic Method Brut Alta Langa DOCG sparkling wine, 2021 harvest
- Grape blend: Composed of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, harmonious and refined profile
- Ageing: Matured for at least 48 months on the lees, with a fine and persistent mousse
- Aromas and taste: Notes of yellow apple, honey, flowers, citrus, marzipan and pastry
- Serving and format: 0.75 l bottle, 12.5% ABV; serving temperature 6–8 °C
Description
What kind of wine it is
Bacco d’Oro is a Traditional Method Brut sparkling wine, born from a harmonious blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Produced by Contratto, it displays a bright yellow colour and a fine, persistent perlage. The bouquet offers intense aromas of yellow apple and peach blossom, with sweet hints of honey. On the palate, the structure is soft and creamy, delivering an enveloping sip where citrus freshness meets ripe fruit and delicate notes of marzipan and petit fours.
Where it comes from
This wine originates in Alta Langa, a Piedmontese area renowned for its winemaking tradition. Contratto interprets the region by enhancing the local soil and climate characteristics. The name Bacco d’Oro recalls a fascinating historical anecdote from the 1940s: at the time, an eighteen-carat gold coin was hidden inside some bottles, rewarding one in every hundred. This legacy lives on today in a rigorous expression of the territory, capable of reflecting the authentic identity of the surrounding hills.
How it is produced
Production begins with the extraction of only the free-run must, obtained through gentle pressing of the grapes. The primary fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature, followed by nine months of ageing. The secondary fermentation occurs according to the Traditional Method, with manual riddling and slow maturation for at least forty-eight months. This prolonged lees ageing defines the structure of this Brut, imparting elegant creaminess and perfect balance on the palate.
History and Curiosities
The historic Contratto winery links this fine sparkling wine to a fascinating anecdote from the 1940s, when it placed an 18-carat gold coin between the cork and the capsule of one in every hundred bottles. Today, this Alta Langa DOCG keeps the exclusivity of that sought-after collector's prize alive through meticulous craftsmanship that enhances the traditional manual remuage. The only sparkling wine from the estate to feature a Brut dosage, it offers a soft and enveloping sensation, turning every opening into a true celebratory ritual.
Tasting notes
Perlage
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
06 - 08 °C
Longevity:
05 - 10 years
- Start up year: 1867
- Oenologist: Andrea Rivetti
- Bottles produced: 180.000
- Hectares: 40
Around 1910 Contratto began to export their wines. Contratto had great success in foreign markets, and the winery became synonymous with prestige and quality in the world of sparkling wines, so much so that the winery became the official wine supplier for the Vatican, the Belgian Royal Family, and in 1913 the Royal Family of Savoy. In 1919 Contratto produced its first vintage Italian sparkling, an innovative choice on the part of the Piedmontese sparkling house that aimed to highlight a single vintage's characteristics.
The Contratto family remained at the company's helm until 1993, when the Bocchino family, who owned a distillery of the same name, took the reigns of Contratto. The Bocchino family set forth the work of restoring the Wine Cathedral, the internal courtyard, and the tasting room.
Giorgio Rivetti, a huge fan of Champagne, began collaborating with the Bocchino family and immediately realized the great potential of the historic sparkling house. Shortly after, in 2011, the Rivetti family decided to take an important step and purchased the winery. This new project immediately reflects the philosophy and passion that made La Spinetta famous. A fundamental decision was directly taken: acquiring several hectares of land, some under vine, close to the little town of Bossolaso. Situated in the highest part of the Langhe, the Bossolasco zone lends itself perfectly to the cultivation of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These grapes are used in the production of the Alta Langa DOCG. This marks the official entry of Contratto in the Consortium of Alta Langa, and Contratto becomes the reference point for the entire denomination. Read more
| Name | Contratto Alta Langa Bacco d'Oro Brut 2021 |
|---|---|
| Type | White classic method sparkling wine brut |
| Denomination | Alta Langa DOCG |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 12.5% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 80% Pinot Nero, 20% Chardonnay |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Piedmont |
| Vendor | Contratto |
| Story | History and Curiosities The historic Contratto winery links this fine sparkling wine to a fascinating anecdote from the 1940s, when it placed an 18-carat gold coin between the cork and the capsule of one in every hundred bottles. Today, this Alta Langa DOCG keeps the exclusivity of that sought-after collector's prize alive through meticulous craftsmanship that enhances the traditional manual remuage. The only sparkling wine from the estate to feature a Brut dosage, it offers a soft and enveloping sensation, turning every opening into a true celebratory ritual. |
| Origin | Alta Langa (Piedmont, Italy) |
| Fermentation | Almeno 48 mesi sui lieviti |
| Production technique | Traditional method (bottle fermentation) |
| Wine making | After destemming, the grapes are pressed without being crushed to obtain the free-run must. The first fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature, followed by around 9 months of maturation in steel and then bottling. The second fermentation occurs in the bottle (traditional method) with at least 48 months of ageing on the lees; manual riddling. |
| Aging | Approximately 48 months on the lees. Bottling: about 9 months after the harvest. |
| Total acidity | 6.0 gr/L |
| Residual sugar | 6.0 gr/L |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |