Nebbiolo
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Slow-cooked beef ragù over fresh egg pasta, roasted veal chops with herbs, and medium-aged cheeses such as Toma or Fontina.
✨ Technical Specifications
The story of Fontanafredda is deeply intertwined with Italian royalty, founded in 1858 by Vittorio Emanuele II, the first King of united Italy, as a private estate for his beloved mistress, Rosa Vercellana. Nestled in the rolling hills of the Langhe region in Piedmont, this historic estate crafts a classic expression of Nebbiolo. Sourced from estate-associated vineyards, this wine showcases the grape's signature translucent ruby hue, high acidity, and structured tannins. Unlike its more formidable sibling Barolo, Fontanafredda's Nebbiolo is crafted for earlier accessibility. It undergoes fermentation in stainless steel followed by a brief period of aging in neutral oak casks, allowing the bright red cherry, wild strawberry, and delicate violet aromas to shine alongside a rustic, earthy undertone that speaks directly to its Piedmontese terroir.
🍾 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.