Contessa Rosa Brut Riserva
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2030
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Classic vitello tonnato, rich seafood dishes like roasted langoustines, and aged Piedmontese cheeses.
✨ Technical Specifications
Steeped in royal romance, Fontanafredda was founded in 1858 by Vittorio Emanuele II, the first King of Italy, as a gift for his beloved Rosa Vercellana, affectionately known as 'La Bela Rosin', whom he later created Countess of Mirafiori and Fontanafredda. The Contessa Rosa Brut Riserva pays homage to this legendary figure. Crafted in the traditional method (Metodo Classico) primarily from Pinot Nero with a touch of Chardonnay grown in the high-altitude, limestone-clay soils of Piedmont, this sparkling rosé undergoes extensive lees aging. A highly distinctive signature of this cuvée is the addition of a dosage liqueur containing a small amount of historic, aged Barolo, bridging the vibrant freshness of Piedmontese sparkling wine with the noble, complex soul of the region's red wine heritage.
🍾 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.