From: Columbia Valley AVA, Oregon, USA
Varietal: Chardonnay
Tasting Notes: Lemon and orange citrus and honeysuckle on the nose with a hint of fresh herbs. This wine has a soft, silky texture on the palate, which shows flavors of lemon curd, clementine, and white peach, underscored by a distinctively mineral finish. They’ve only been making this wine since 2020, and we’ve found that the 2022 vintage was an exceptional showing from Buona Notte.
Pairing: This orange wine has the freshness and textural complexity necessary for a dynamic range of pairing options. It would go great with dishes centered around vegetables and nutty grains, or a simple roast chicken and root vegetables. The following recipe by David Tania for an Italian-Style Tuna Sandwich not only jives with Buona Notte’s Italian roots, but also has the perfect balance of fresh and savory, with a range of textures to pair well with the feel of the 2022 Buona Notte Panna Cotta.
About. Buona Notte is a family endeavor that began in 2016 for winemaker Graham Markel and with his parents, Jeff and Peggy. Graham credits his parents for introducing him to the wide world of travel, cooking, and cuisine at an early age. With a BFA in writing and literature and a history of working in restaurants, Graham moved from his hometown of Boulder, CO to the Willamette Valley, where he started working under Maggie Harrison at Antica Terra Winery. From there, he continued his journey into wine working with Master Sommelier Nate Ready from Hiyu Wine Farm.
“The number one thing I learned [from Maggie and Nate] was to think deeply about winemaking and how to add beauty to every step of the process. No matter how arduous or tiring, every action must be taken to make the best wine possible.”
Living at Hiyu Wine Farm in Hood River opened Graham's eyes to the winemaking possibilities of the Colombia River Gorge, with its varied microclimates inviting experimentation with different varietals like Gewurztraminer, Mencia, and Sangiovese.
“Here in the snow-capped volcanoes, rolling hills, and big rivers of the Pacific Northwest, we have found gastronomic poetry,” Graham says. “Oregon has a deep food and wine tradition, driven by the unique culinary culture of Portland and the world famous wines of the Willamette Valley. It’s the Buona Notte mission to add to that lineage.”
Buona Notte, Italian for “good night,” produces around 3,000 cases per year of wines meant to be enjoyed with a beautiful plate of food in front of you. Their packaging is eco-friendly, with glass bottles coming from recycling in Portland and Seattle as well as 50% hemp post-conservation waste labels, natural cork, and local beeswax to seal the bottles.
The 2022 Buona Notte Panna Cotta is a skin-contact Chardonnay from the sustainably farmed Hillside Vineyard in The Dalles on the Oregon side of the Columbia Valley AVA. It is hand-destemmed and left on the skins for an average of two weeks. The wine is fermented and aged in neutral French oak barrels.
