Description
There are more than a dozen wine zones in Piedmont’s Alpine foothills, (or Alta Piemonte: the DOC zones that run along the border with Valle d’ Aosta and follow the contours of the Alps). However only one of them is dedicated exclusively to white wines: Caluso.
In a glacial basin around the towns of Caluso and Canavese, the ancient variety Erbaluce (early references date back to 1606) is vinified by a handful of producers into 3 different styles: still, sparkling and passito. The grape name derives from the ‘Albaluce Legend’, which narrates that in olden times these hills were populated by nymphs and gods worshipped by men. Dawn and Sun, two of those gods, were in love but never destined to meet – until a providential eclipse and the intercession of the Moon made it possible. From that union the nymph Albaluce was born, whose beauty and grace prompted men to offer everything the
land had available as homage, leaving it barren and desolate. Albaluce’s pain was such that from her tears, vine shoots emerged: a white grape named Erbaluce
This wine is produced from the best Erbaluce grapes and named after a Savoia ancestor – king Umberto I – nicknamed “Il Biancamano”. The selected bunches are soft-pressed and vinified in steel; followed by 5 months ageing on the lees.
A perfect example of Erbaluce di Caluso: flowery bouquet and a dry and fresh palate typical of the wine. Great when young, it has surprising cellaring potential
Great on its own or paired with Asian flavours. Drink cold within 4 years
