Fontanafredda
Esordio Extra Dry
| Denomination | VSQ |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 12.0% by volume |
| Area | Piedmont (Italy) |
| Grape varieties | Chardonnay, Moscato Bianco/Moscato Reale, Pinot Nero |
| Aging | Each individual cuvée is prepared with the care that comes from the great experience of Fontanafredda's oenologists, in order to keep the characteristics of the product almost constant despite the variations of different vintages. |
- Style and sweetness: Extra Dry white sparkling wine, soft and fresh with a delicate fruity sweetness
- Grape blend: A combination of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Moscato and Riesling, with a harmonious and modern profile
- Aromas: Intense notes of citrus, grapefruit, sage, mint and tropical fruit
- Production method: Charmat (Martinotti) method in autoclave, with fine and persistent bubbles
- Serving and pairings: Serve at 6–8°C; ideal as an aperitif, with starters, cheese and pizza
Description
What kind of wine it is
Fontanafredda Esordio Extra Dry is an Extra Dry sparkling wine created from a harmonious blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Moscato and Riesling. This sparkling wine stands out for its clear profile, enriched with aromas of citrus, grapefruit, sage and tropical fruit. The effervescence, achieved through the Charmat Method, provides a fine and abundant perlage. On the palate, it is fresh and smooth, characterised by a slight fruity sweetness well balanced by lively acidity and a subtly spicy finish, making it ideal for convivial moments.
Where it comes from
The grapes for this wine come from the Langhe and Oltrepò Pavese areas, grown in mid-hill vineyards. The soils, rich in calcareous marl, give the wine a pronounced aromatic clarity and a pleasant structural freshness. The vines are managed using the Guyot system, ensuring the ideal balance of the bunches. This careful attention reflects Fontanafredda's expertise in enhancing the hilly Piedmontese territory, ensuring a harmonious character and a profile best served at temperatures between 6 and 8°C.
How it is produced
The grapes are harvested between the end of August and the beginning of September. In the winery, a direct pressing is carried out with immediate separation of the must from the skins. The subsequent temperature-controlled fermentation, maintained between 16 and 20°C, fully preserves the delicate varietal aromas. After a period of resting in the tank, the prise de mousse is achieved through a second fermentation in a pressurised tank, typical of the Martinotti method, which gives the wine its fine bubbles and ensures excellent quality consistency in every cuvée produced.
History and Curiosities
Created by the historic Piedmontese winery Fontanafredda, founded in 1858, the Esordio label pays tribute to the Langhe and over a century of winemaking expertise. The name itself evokes a joyful debut, reflecting an immediate and convivial style. Each cuvée is skilfully crafted to ensure consistent quality, the result of increasingly natural viticulture and a reduced use of sulphites. Awarded Gold at the Sakura Japan Women’s Wine Awards 2023, this charming sparkling wine offers a harmonious and satisfying drinking experience.
Tasting notes
Perlage
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
06 - 08 °C
Longevity:
03 - 05 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 Esordio Extra Dry |
|---|---|
| Type | White charmat method sparkling wine extra dry |
| Denomination | VSQ |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 12.0% by volume |
| Grape varieties | Chardonnay, Moscato Bianco/Moscato Reale, Pinot Nero |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Piedmont |
| Vendor | Fontanafredda |
| Story | History and Curiosities Created by the historic Piedmontese winery Fontanafredda, founded in 1858, the Esordio label pays tribute to the Langhe and over a century of winemaking expertise. The name itself evokes a joyful debut, reflecting an immediate and convivial style. Each cuvée is skilfully crafted to ensure consistent quality, the result of increasingly natural viticulture and a reduced use of sulphites. Awarded Gold at the Sakura Japan Women’s Wine Awards 2023, this charming sparkling wine offers a harmonious and satisfying drinking experience. |
| Origin | Langhe and Oltrepò Pavese, Piedmont, Italy |
| Climate | Mid-hills |
| Soil composition | Calcareous marls |
| Cultivation system | Guyot |
| Plants per hectare | 4500 |
| Harvest | End of August, early September |
| Fermentation temperature | 16–20 °C |
| Production technique | Charmat method (Martinotti), second fermentation in autoclave |
| Wine making | White vinification with direct pressing of the grapes and immediate separation of the must from the skins; followed by static clarification and fermentation at a controlled temperature (16–20 °C). After clarification, the wine is matured in tank, then the sparkling process is carried out using the Charmat/Martinotti method through a second fermentation in a pressurised tank with the addition of sugar. |
| Aging | Each individual cuvée is prepared with the care that comes from the great experience of Fontanafredda's oenologists, in order to keep the characteristics of the product almost constant despite the variations of different vintages. |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |