From: Piemonte, Italy
Varietal: Pelaverga
Tasting Notes: The 2023 Burlotto Verduno Pelaverga is a captivating red wine with a vibrant ruby hue and an inviting, intense bouquet. Aromas of sandalwood, rose petals, and hints of nutmeg, pepper, and greenish undertones complement strawberries. It is well- balanced and dry on the palate, showcasing flavors of ripe berry fruit with a persistent, peppery character. The wine's modest acidity and lower alcohol content make it ideal for young consumption, even when it is slightly chilled in summer. The velvety tannins provide depth and structure, lingering through to a clean, greenish-berry fruit finish. A more concentrated expression of Pelaverga, thanks to vines between 4 and 20 years old, this vintage offers both elegance and vibrancy.
Pairing: This delightful red should be served slightly chilled, as it is a light, earthy red wine. When pairing this wine with food, it is best to choose light and delicate dishes. This wine pairs well with dishes that have earthy flavors, such as mushrooms and truffles. It also pairs well with lighter meats, such as those found in antipasti, chicken, and pork, and heartier seafood, like salmon or tuna. This wine pairs nicely with grilled vegetables, such as eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers, for a vegetarian option. The light tannins and acidity help to bring out the flavors of the vegetables. For our pairing suggestion today, check out Susan Spungen’s recipe below for a marriage of light, vegetable-centered risotto with savory Pancetta.
About. Burlotto is the flagship producer from Barolo’s Verduno area. This is a property of enormous historic importance, fabulously delicious wines, and outstanding value.
The Commendatore Giovan Battista Burlotto, one of Barolo's great characters, founded the estate back in 1850. The labels still commemorate the royal house of Savoy’s fondness for Burlotto wines, as well as the winery’s exclusive presence on Duke Luigi Amedeo's 1899 North Pole expedition. The Duke lost two fingers to frostbite, but wrote to the Commendatore a year and a half into the trip that “[t]he wine has been conserved in perfect condition.” G.B. Burlotto was also a pioneer of selling wine in bottle (rather than in cask or demijohn), as well as a champion of a now-rare but still-ravishing grape, Pelaverga Piccolo.
Five generations later, G.B.’s great-great-grandson, Fabio Alessandria, has changed little at the winery, doing some of the crush by foot, fermenting the wine in upright wooden vats, using indigenous yeast and little temperature control.
We love Burlotto wines for their history, but even more for their diversity, their pure fruit, delicate structure, and signature Verduno floral aromatics and spicy palate. The family's single-vineyard Barolos, especially the culty Monvigliero, are some of Piedmont's most lauded wines, critical and collector favorites year-in and year-out. But they continue to make extraordinary wines for Piedmont's more humble grapes (including Dolcetto, Barbera, Preisa, and of course Pelaverga), wines that don't attempt to turn those grapes into Nebbiolo blockbusters but rather that show their unique charms and terroir transparency. The sheer drinkability of these "lesser" wines is is tremendous, and the pricing for such special bottles from such top-rank grower, is shockingly accessible.
The grape. Pelaverga is an ancient Italian grape variety rarely found outside of its native region of Piedmont. This unique variety has a long history, dating back to the 16th century when it was first documented. Its name is derived from the Italian phrase “piede di verga,” which translates to “foot of the rod,” a reference to the vine’s long, thin stems.
Pelaverga is a light-bodied red wine with a unique flavor profile. Its aromas include red fruit (strawberries, cherries), dried herbs, a hint of spice, and earthy notes. The palate is light and tart, with high acidity and low tannins. Its light body and high acidity make it an ideal food pairing wine, as it can easily cut through rich dishes.
Extremely hard to find, Pelaverga is a rare and unique grape variety worth seeking out. Its light body and high acidity make it an ideal food-pairing wine, and its unique flavor profile makes it a great choice for those looking to explore Italian wines.
