This Piedmont Rosso is way more than meets the eye. It comes from the marriage of two great minds, and punches way above its weight. More on that later.
If you know Barolo, you know Roberto Colombero. He’s the latest generation to helm the family estate, Giacomo Conterno, and is known for his masterful expression of Nebbiolo. Cristiano Garella is a young winemaker in Alto Piemonte, north of Barolo and Barbaresco. He’s been one of the staunchest advocates for the re-emerging region. Long story short, if a Nebbiolo lover was putting together their dream draft picks, these two would be top of the list.
This blend of mostly Nebbiolo with a bit of Croatina comes from organically farmed vines in the villages of Lessona and Masserano. It sees very little oak—mostly fermented and raised in concrete—and is a fresh, easy drinking expression of Nebbiolo that keeps us coming back for more.
Melascone is the local name for Nebbiolo, and while this might be classified as a basic “Rosso,” we think it drinks like a juicy Bramaterra.
Producer: Colombera & Garella
Country: Italy
Region: Piedmont
Variety: Nebbiolo, Croatina
Tasting Notes
Strawberry, rose, leather
If You Like This
If you like this, then you should look at other cool climate or high elevation Italian reds. We think you’ll find some great options in Friuli as well as more unexpected places like Mount Etna in Sicily and Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
More Info
- Nebbiolo from Alto Piemonte is more immediately drinkable than Nebbiolo from Barolo and Barbaresco thanks to the unique soils and cooler climate.
- This lightweight Rosso is just as crushable with a pizza as it is with a heartier meat dish.
- The duo rebuilt their cellar in 2019 which some people say has made the wines even better.
$36.00
Pair Your Club Wine With...
This easy drinking Nebbiolo is super flexible, but we’re excited to try it with pan-fried quails with grappa and juniper from Loukie Werle’s Italian Country Cooking.
Our wine clubs—Thirst, Sauvage, and Dirt— and our Cheese Club are available for local pickup in Burlington and Stowe, Vermont. They're a great way to learn more about wine and cheese, expand your palate, or just get to try something new every month. Every wine and cheese is selected by our somms and comes with detailed tasting notes and recipes to pair.