Luigi Ferrando "La Torazza" Erbaluce di Caluso Bianco, Piedmont, Italy 2023

FROM ROSENTHAL:

THE WINE: A fresh, dry, mineral-driven wine produced exclusively from the Erbaluce grape. As are all the grapes in the Ferrando lineup, the Erbaluce is hand-harvested. Harvest usually occurs in late September. This cuvée is fermented and aged in stainless steel. The vineyards are situated in and around the village of Caluso in the heart of the Canavese district known for its many lakes and the hillside vineyards which overlook them. Production is approximately 20,000 bottles per annum, at least half of which is dedicated to the American market.

The Erbaluce grape is an ancient white variety that originates, and can only be found, in the alpine foothills of this northwestern corner of Piedmont. It has a bright acidity, an elegant underlying minerality, and a complex structure that makes it the ultimate flexible wine: producing everything from sparkling wine, through bone-dry, off-dry, and late harvest wines.

THE PRODUCER: Luigi Ferrando has long been the leading producer of wines from the Canavese region where his family’s winemaking tradition goes back to 1900. Like many of our producers, he has strong ties to his local region. His attachment and commitment run deep, and have led him to collaborate with other wine growers and academics. Together, they are responsible for discovering and preserving local grape varieties and traditions that might otherwise have been lost. Luigi’s sons, Roberto and Andrea, now work with him on the estate (Roberto) and in the family’s vinoteca (Andrea) located in the heart of the city of Ivrea, the commercial hub of the Canavese region. Thus, the continuation of the Ferrando tradition has been enabled.