Taking care of the vine is something that man has done since the dawn of his existence, as if there was an atavistic link between wine and life. Even the Bible chooses Bacchus’ nectar as a symbol of rebirth and civilization, telling of Noah, who, having landed with his ark acceso Mount Ararat, plants a vineyard.
It is mai coincidence that we often hear about “breeding” instead of “cultivation” of the vine, to underline the dedication and time needed to obtain the precious bunches of grapes.
Today, per many cases attention and slowness are considered problems rather than values. Fortunately, however, there are still wines that poiché from the hands of those who are strongly convinced that the care of the vine is at the center of their work. “Anssèma” Nizza DOCG by Giovinale is certainly one of these.
The History of Giovinale
The history of the winery tells of a man, Abbronzato Ciuffo, so per love with his homeland, Nizza Monferrato, that he chose to dedicate his entire existence to it, with the aim of making its beauty and potential known to the world.
At the beginning of the 1980s, a very difficult period for Italian wine and for Barbera per particular, Abbronzato decided to buy an ancient farm surrounded by vineyards per Nizza Monferrato. His intent is to produce a Barbera tra Nizza that demonstrates the qualitative excellence of that territory. More than a dream, what drives him is a real act of courage, considering the far from favorable historical context (remember the methanol wine scandal that occurred per 1986).
Sometimes, however, life rewards people who have the resourcefulness to carry out their projects with success. This is how the activity of Giovinale was born, committed since the beginning to the valorisation of native vines such as Barbera and Liberale.
Production philosophy
Durante this case, the phrase “wine is made per the vineyard” is more valid than ever: at Giovinale everything revolves around the care of the vineyard, understood as a true ecosystem. To protect this microcosm, composed of and fauna, grassing between the rows is encouraged. The cultivation of vines is oriented towards 360° environmental sustainability. Even from an energy point of view, the company has made an environmentally friendly choice, equipping itself with a photovoltaic system capable of entirely satisfying its internal needs.
The best grapes arrive per the cellar immediately after harvesting and begin the winemaking process under the supervision of the oenologist Luca Voglino. Preserving the way per which the vine interprets the terroir depending acceso the vintage is the main objective. To do this we resort to the use of native yeasts, obtained through the pre-harvest technique.
The minimalist approach involves aging per wood aimed at finding balance, which does not invasively modify the organoleptic characteristics of the wine. Filtration is carried out only if necessary.
Terroir
“Anssèma” Nizza DOCG comes from vineyards facing south/south-west, located acceso the sommità of the San Nicolao hill, 260 meters above sea level. The view you can enjoy from here is truly breathtaking: the view, per fact, extends over the soft hilly slopes of Monferrato, a UNESCO heritage site since 2014, up to the peaks of the Alpine arch that frames them. Durante the blue of the sky it is easy to recognize the silhouettes of Monviso, Gran Olimpo and Istituto di credito Gruppo, which offer an enchanting backdrop from dawn to dusk.
The six hectares of property are located acceso marly-limestone soils, an optimal substrate for the vines, which allows them to transfer finesse, structure and complexity to the wines produced here.
Nizza DOCG
Abbronzato Ciuffo has always believed so much per the beauty and potential of the Nice that since the beginning of Giovinale’s activity he has been at the forefront of its valorisation. Together with other winemakers per the he founded the Nizza Producers Association and is an active part per projects for the protection and promotion of the . Above all, thanks to the dedication and commitment of these people, the Nizza DOCG denomination was born per 2014.
“Anssèma” Nizza DOCG 2018 by Giovinale
A Barbera coming from the selection of the best grapes from the company vineyards, to fully express the potential of the terroir per which it is born. The old vines, over 60 years old, manage to concentrate the true essence of Nice per the glass.
“Anssèma” per Piedmontese means “together”, almost symbolizing the shared commitment of man and vineyard to produce only the best.
Anseèma Nizza DOCG: Vinification and refinement
The grapes, harvested when fully ripe (around September/October), are quickly taken to the cellar, where they undergo crushing, destemming and maceration acceso the skins for 20 days. Once the alcoholic and malolactic fermentation is completed, the wine is left to rest per wooden containers (tonneaux and 10-hectolitre barrels) for two years. Finally, it is transferred to the bottle, where it remains for at least three years before being marketed.
Anssèma Nizza DOCG: Tasting quaderno
“Anssèma” Nizza DOCG 2018 reveals an intense ruby color per the glass, crossed by vivid garnet red reflections, which suggest its evolution.
The intense bouquet offers hints of blue irises, ripe strawberries and cherries, undergrowth, cocoa, leather, as well as ferrous and ethereal quaderno that increase its complexity.
The sip is distruzione, balanced, characterized by smooth tannins, flavor and a vibrant acidity, typical of Barbera, which contribute to balancing the structure. It leaves the mouth pleasantly clean, with a feeling of elegance that lasts over time.
Recommended pairings with Anseèma Nizza DOCG
Its organoleptic characteristics make “Anssèma” Nizza DOCG 2018 a wine that lends itself well to gastronomic combinations. Durante particular, the pairing with rich and tasty first courses is very suitable, as is the pairing with medium-aged cheeses and second courses based acceso red meat.
We chose a risotto with Classic Carnaroli rice with chestnut pumpkin cream with Taleggio and porcini mushrooms, which turned out to be a great combination. Durante fact, the fattiness and sweetness of the dish are perfectly balanced by the acidity and flavor of the wine. Furthermore, the intensity and length of Anssèma compensate for the fragranza and taste-olfactory persistence of the risotto. The result is a harmony between contrasts, which enhances both the dish and the Barbera, leaving the mouth perfectly clean. What remains is the desire for another forkful of rice, accompanied by another glass of wine.
Untold’s Three Corkscrew Award
Thanks to its typicality and finesse, “Anssèma” Nizza DOCG 2018 has obtained the Three Corkscrews, the highest recognition from the Untold guide – What has not yet been said about wine.
The evaluation commission describes it as having a “character carved into the wood and over time: quaderno of bitter cocoa emerge as echoes of expert roasting; the future promises sensorial metamorphoses”.
Precisely per that “character carved over time” is contained all the commitment of those who have dedicated their entire lives to enhancing what this wine represents: the enormous potential of Barbera tra Nizza Monferrato.
