Notes from Skurnik Wines:

 "As the Vallana family explains, Spanna, the local name for Nebbiolo, is a grape of terroir. While the Langhe showcases a beautiful expression, especially in the Barolo and Barbaresco regions, no list is complete without the wines of Alto Piemonte. Here, at the base of the Alps, at the foot of Monte Rosa, where the Mediterranean and Continental climates meet, Alto Piemonte takes on a charming and highly aromatic character. Alto Piemonte has acidic soils, rather than the alkaline soils of the Langhe, giving the wine its acid backbone and ultimately the structure and character that adds to the age ability. These vineyard sites are on gently sloping terraces along the left bank of the river Sesia and Lake Maggiore. Vallana owns vineyard sites within Colline Novaresi including the 2 important crus of Boca and Gattinara.

The classical labels that adorn Vallana’s bottles represent the family’s connection to the past, as well as their deep roots in the wine world. The estate as we know it today was formed in 1937, but the Vallana name was synonymous with great wine as early as the 18th century. Vallana is situated in the village of Maggiora in the Alto Piemonte, more than 100 miles north of Barolo. Today, the estate is run by Giuseppina Vallana, together with her son Francis (a Ph.D. in Viticulture and Oenology), and her daughters Marina and Miriam."

About the cuvee:

"90% Nebbiolo blended with Uva Rara and Vespolina. A rigorous selection process occurs in both the vineyard and winery. Cement tanks help to keep the must cool and the juice is continually pumped over the skins to aid in extraction. Aging takes place in cement tanks prior to bottling. Campi Raudii (Latin for red fields) is the name of one of the most important battles in Roman history which took place near the estate’s current foundation. After a hard earned victory, the Romans introduced the cultivation of vines to these red colored soils."