Sfera "Nebula Rosa" Rosato, Puglia, Italy NV

FROM PORTOVINO:

THE WINE: 100% Nebbiolo. The Crotin family planted the first vines in 1897 in the area of Maretto, in Piedmont. Today, the small estate is still managed by the family; indeed the three brothers Federico, Marcello and Corrado work together in the vineyards and in the cellar. They have been organic since the beginning and they also use some biodynamic techniques in their vineyards. Low intervention and native grapes, as well as salinity, are their distinguished marks.

THE PRODUCER: Sfera’s at once terroir-driven, but also an interesting take on liters, and bottling wine in general. As Sfera says on their quirky site: Cosmic Verve in a Grounded Italian Liter…From the Alps to the Mediterranean. Sfera collaborates with multiple small certified-organic farmers to bottle liters in limited runs, and are keen to give the producer credit by clearly putting the winery’s name and providence on the back label.

This all means that the producers change, but front labels don’t. Another constant is that the wines are naturally made, and fall into certain guidelines that are lab tested before and after bottling. It’s a win-win, small certified organic producers get to do a fun liter project, and Sfera drinkers get to explore Italy.