Already DOC classified in 1967, in 1990 Gattinara became one of Italy’s first wines to boast DOCG classification (Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin), which requires it to be made using a minimum 90% Nebbiolo grapes and Vespolina and Uva Rara for the remainder.
Nebbiolo grapes grow in medium-sized bunches that form a long pyramid shape. The grapes themselves are quite small and almost oval, with a deep purple skin covered in a “light patina” or “bloom”, which looks like the “nebbiolina” [mist] that gives the grape its name.
Another theory is that the name comes from the dawn mist that shrouds the hilly slopes in early October, when the Nebbiolo harvest is in full swing.
“The work I love best here is following the development of the wines in the cellar, day by day. It takes constant care and attention, and knowing when it’s just the right time for each single process, preserving the integrity of the bouquet and aromas of our wine is a daily challenge“.
