Monferrato Bianco DOC "Zefiro" 2025 - La Voltignana

Zefiro – the west wind, which in Greek mythology heralded spring. And it is to the west that the vineyards of La Voltignana look: Federica Mazzarello's farm in Mornese, a small village in the Alto Monferrato in the province of Alessandria, at 360 metres above sea level between the last foothills of the Ligurian Apennines and the Piedmont hills. A rugged, windswept border area where Cortese finds one of its most authentic and least known homes.

100% Cortese, Guyot-trained with integrated pest management and no herbicides, picked exclusively by hand into small crates in the middle ten days of September. The grapes reach the cellar within two hours of picking – no small detail, as it fully preserves the fruit's aromatic freshness. Then comes soft pressing, separating the free-run must from the press must; only the free-run must goes into chilled tanks for flotation and is then fermented at a controlled 15 °C. The wine ages in stainless steel on its fine lees for about five months, until bottling in April.

In the glass it is a luminous straw yellow. The nose is delicate and fragrant: white flowers and fresh fruit in a clean, inviting bouquet. The palate is full, rich, soft and enveloping, with aromatic notes from fully ripe grapes and a well-judged freshness that carries each sip to a pleasant, lasting finish.

A Cortese from a small artisan winery, in an area still waiting to be discovered.

Suggested pairings: seafood starters, herb risotto, pasta with seafood, white meats, fresh cheeses.