Riserva Speciale
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically peaks between 10 to 30 years from the vintage, requiring several years of cellar aging to fully soften and reveal its intricate tertiary layers.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Slow-braised beef, rich pasta dishes with fresh truffles, and mature hard cheeses like Castelmagno.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
The story of Fontanafredda is deeply intertwined with Italian royalty, born in 1858 from a love story between King Vittorio Emanuele II and Rosa Vercellana, the 'Bela Rosin,' who was gifted the estate. Located in the heart of the Langhe region in Piedmont, Fontanafredda's historic 'Riserva Speciale' represents a bygone era of winemaking, crafted from 100% Nebbiolo grapes grown in the clay-marl soils of Serralunga d'Alba. This designation, historically reserved for exceptional vintages requiring extended aging, showcases traditional Piedmontese craftsmanship. The wine undergoes long maceration on the skins and years of maturation in large Slavonian oak casks, resulting in a deeply structured, complex red. It yields classic aromas of dried rose petals, tar, leather, and autumnal forest floor, supported by robust tannins and a vibrant, age-worthy acidity.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1858 by Vittorio Emanuele II, the first King of Italy, as a gift to his beloved Rosa Vercellana, Fontanafredda is a historic estate nestled in the heart of the Langhe region in Serralunga d'Alba, Piedmont. Today, the winery is celebrated for its deep-rooted heritage and commitment to sustainable viticulture, transitioning its estate vineyards to certified organic farming. Fontanafredda is globally renowned for its classic, structured Barolo wines aged in traditional Slavonian oak casks, alongside expressive regional whites like Gavi and Arneis Pradalupo, and vibrant reds such as Barbera and Dolcetto under the Briccotondo and Raimonda labels.