Ghemme DOCG
Torraccia del Piantavigna is a family-owned, eco-friendly estate, founded in 1997 by Alessandro Francoli of the Luigi Francoli Distillery. It is located in the foothills of Monte Rosa in the Alta Piemonte area, which is known for longstanding winemaking traditions and elegant world-class wines. The area features a continental climate tempered by cool mountain breezes – which also favor excellent day/night temperature swings – and fluvial, alluvial soils, rich in minerals, that lead to age-worthy wines due to opulent tannins and excellent acid profiles. The wines, styled by enologist Mattia Donna and consulting enologist Beppe Caviola, have a clean and elegant style, partly due to the use of medium-sized Allier oak casks, which allow for long and gentle maturation.
Ghemme DOCG is a tiny appellation – only 73 hectares (180 acres) – in the Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark area, situated at the foothills of Monterosa. The area enjoys vast diurnal temperature changes, due to the cool winds from Monte Rosa, which favor lovely and persistent aromatic properties. This wine boasts exceptional longevity and is a wonderful alternative to Barolo and Barbaresco thanks to its elegance, heightened aromas, balanced acidity and vibrant tannins.
Wine exported to
USA
Most recent awards
- 2000 | Wine Enthusiast92
- 2012 | Decanter97
- 2009 | Wine Advocate93
- 2015 | James Suckling91
Grape Varieties:
90% Nebbiolo, 10% Vespolina
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel
Maceration technique:
Remontage
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Aging containers:
Oak casks
Type of oak:
French (Allier)
Aging before bottling:
36 months
Aging in bottle:
6 months
Closure:
Natural cork
Organic:
Sustainable Farming
Vineyard location:
From a single vineyard on top of a hill called Ronco dell’Ulivo, in the territory of Ghemme DOCG
Vineyard size:
6 hectares (15 acres)
Soil composition:
Fluvial/Alluvial and clay
Vine training:
Guyot
Altitude:
240 to 320 meters (787-1,050) above sea level
Exposure:
Mainly western
Years planted:
1973, 2000, 2005
Time of harvest:
Early October
Total yearly production (in bottles):
30,000
Tasting notes:
Ruby red in color verging on gold, with a delicate, elegant and persistent nose that suggests violet and licorice. Dry, powerful and potent on the palate, with soft tannins and good residual acidity.
Serving temperature:
Best served at 18-20 °C (64.4 - 68 °F).
Food pairings:
Pair with red meat, braised beef, wild game and seasoned cheeses
Aging potential:
Upwards of 20 years
Alcohol:
13%
Winemaker:
Mattia Donna
