Rosato "Verso CastellaniA" 2025 - Cascina Giambolino

verso castellaniA — a name that is a direction, a horizon. Like the Canvèra vineyard it comes from: half a hectare of south-west facing vines in the hills of Fonti di Villaromagnano, in the heart of the Colli Tortonesi, on calcareous marl and clay at 225-250 metres. A territory declared a UNESCO vine-growing slope in 2017, where Cascina Giambolino tends a family farming tradition going back to the mid-twentieth century, carried forward today with fresh energy by Emanuele and Alice, who in 2019 gave the estate's winemaking arm new life and identity.

An unusual, personal Piedmontese blend: 90% Barbera as the acid, fruit-driven backbone, with a touch of Merlot for roundness and Freisa for the scent of raspberry — a native Piedmontese variety that gives this rosé its most distinctive note. Simple Guyot training, 3,500 vines per hectare, hand-picked. Five months' ageing in steel tanks.

In the glass, a deep cherry pink, lively and decided — not a timid rosé. The nose is delicate and fragrant: raspberry dominates the bouquet, the recognisable gift of the Freisa in the blend. On the palate the characteristic acidity of Barbera comes through in well-defined citrus notes, softened by the roundness of the Merlot — a balance of freshness and softness that makes the wine slip down beautifully. Eleven and a half degrees: light and easy.

A Piedmontese rosé outside the usual mould, from a small artisan estate with deep roots and an eye on the future.

Recommended pairings: rich cured meats, lardo, pancetta, cooked salami, cotechino, fried food in general, and traditional Piedmontese starters.