2015 Gambellara Classico “Col Moenia”

Gambellara is a tiny white wine appellation in Italy’s Veneto, situated roughly midway between the city of Vicenza and the more renowned Soave zone. Like Soave, Gambellara wines spotlight the local Garganega grape; however, differences in soil type yield very distinct expressions of this same variety. Whereas the limestone of Soave gives fine, elegant wines with generous fruit, the volcanic basalt that makes up most of Gambellara’s vineyards produces a much more steely, mineral-driven, almost gritty white. When young Davide Vignato took over the family vineyards, he set out to craft whites that would genuinely reflect this fascinating, unheralded terroir. Col Moenia represents a selection of the estate’s highest-quality organically grown grapes, fermented with a starter culture from wild yeasts and aged in tank with regular lees stirring. It brilliantly balances a delicate, slightly creamy, floral side with the saline minerality conferred from these volcanic soils. It pairs perfectly with any number of cicchetti (Venetian snacks). –Anthony Lynch

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

• Vintage 2015
• Bottle Size 750mL
• Blend Garganega
• Appellation Gambellara
• Country Italy
• Region Veneto
• Vineyard 40 years average, 6 ha total
• Soil Volcanic, basalt soil
• Winemaker Davide Vignato
• Aging Ages on fine lees in stainless steel tank for 7 months until bottling
• Farming Organic, Biodynamic
• Alcohol 13%