Sperino Uvaggio

• Varietals: 80% Nebbiolo, 15% Vespolina, 5% Croatina. Rootstocks: 3309-C, Gloire de Montpellier, 101-14, Gravesac, Rupestris du Lot.

• Vineyards: Grapes for this wine are grown in the Ormeggio, Castagnola and Belvedere vineyards in Lessona in the Orolungo region, included in the Lessona D.O.C.They are also grown in the 35 year old Madonna degli Angeli vineyard in Brusnengo in the Forte region. It is included in the Bramaterra D.O.C. 5.000 vines per hectare.

• Altitude: Lessona: 290-350 metres above sea level Madonna degli Angeli: 350-420 metres above sea level.

• Soil: In the Lessona vineyards, soils comprise marine sands from the pliocene period on igneous rock, mixed with more recent glacial sediment. The soil is acid (pH 4.5 – 5.5) rich in minerals and trace elements including iron, manganese, aluminium and zinc. Soils in the Madonna degli Angeli vineyard are composed of pebbles on a base of igneous rock which is close to the surface and veined with china clay. pH here is 5-6.

• Harvest: The grapes are hand picked into small boxes.

• Vinification: The grapes are sorted while on the conveyor belt, then destemmed and gently pressed then fed by gravity into the fermentation tank. Fermentation with natural yeasts in open topped wooden fermenters. Skin maceration lasts 23 days, with regular punching down of the cap. The wine then remained 12 months sur lie.

• Ageing: The wine ages in barrique, barrel and oval, 15 hectolitre casks for 22 months. Further ageing in bottle for some time before release.