Briccotondo
⏳ Drinking Window
Best enjoyed young and fresh, typically within 1 to 3 years from the vintage release, to fully appreciate its vibrant acidity and delicate floral aromas.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Fresh seafood dishes, light vegetable antipasti, and young goat cheeses.
✨ Technical Specifications
Fontanafredda's Briccotondo White, primarily crafted from the native Arneis grape under the Piemonte DOC, is a vibrant testament to Piedmont's white winemaking renaissance. The estate itself is steeped in royal history, founded in 1858 by Vittorio Emanuele II, the first King of Italy, as a gift for his beloved Rosa Vercellana, known affectionately as 'La Bela Rosin'. The name 'Briccotondo' pays homage to the rounded hilltop ('bricco') vineyards typical of the rolling Langhe landscape. Grown in soils rich in sand, clay, and marl, the grapes are gently pressed and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve their crisp, aromatic integrity. The resulting wine avoids oak contact, focusing instead on pure fruit expression, delicate white flower notes, and a refreshing mineral backbone that reflects the cool, hilly terroir of northern Italy.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1858 by Vittorio Emanuele II, the first King of unified Italy, as an estate for his mistress Rosa Vercellana, Fontanafredda evolved into a foundational pillar of Piedmontese viticulture under their son, Count Emanuele Alberto di Mirafiore. The historic estate encompasses 120 hectares of certified organic vineyards centered in Serralunga d'Alba, an area distinguished by compact Helvetian limestone-marl soils and elevated south- and southwest-facing slopes between 200 and 400 meters. Acquired in 2008 by Oscar Farinetti and Luca Baffigo, the property underwent a viticultural renaissance, securing full organic certification with the 2018 harvest. In the nineteenth-century cellars, winemaking merges technical precision with classical Piedmontese restraint, relying on long macerations, stainless steel vinification for fragrant whites, and maturation in neutral Slavonian oak botti for its noble reds. Iconic bottlings include the cru Barolo Vigna La Rosa, Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d'Alba, Roero Arneis Pradalupo, and the pioneering Alta Langa Metodo Classico sparkling wines.