Origin: Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
ABV: 11%
USNW Classification: Natural
Varietal & Type: 90% Uva Tosca, 10% Lambrusco Grasparossa

Vintage: 2022

This is a slightly sparkling wine (in Italian: Frizzante) from the Lambrusco region, made in the traditional way. It's rosé, because a blend of a white (UVA tosca) and red (lambrusco) grape. The wine is a great refreshing sparkler that can be ideal as an aperitif or a mise en bouche with very fresh bites such as see food, oysters, shrimp or even meat crudo. The high acidity of the wine will also make it work well with spicy and sweet dishes.

BEST ENJOYED CHILLED

About the Winemaker

Podere Sottoilnoce

Podere Sottoilnoce is a 7-hectare wine estate located in the picturesque village of Castelvetro di Modena, at the very heart of the Lambrusco Grasparossa DOC. The proprietor and winemaker, Max Brondolo has been applying biodynamic principles since 2016, with the goal of maintaining the balance between monoculture (vineyards) and surrounding nature. 

Podere Sottoilnoce is a first-generation winery. While Max started this project from zero, his family still had some experience with wine as his grandfather was also a winemaker, but in Asti, in Piedmont. That's where he built his first memories of wine as a kid - sparkling barbera. Very discreet about his previous professional life, he regrets he didn’t start with winemaking earlier in his life. Interestingly, Max invested in buying vineyards before the cellar, or an actual winery. He is still a bit of a nomad winemaker. He collaborated with Gianluca Bergianti, where he started to make his wines. He uses another winemaker's facilities where his tanks are. His storage is at another place near Modena and his tasting room and office is at another very lovely small house by the vineyard. 

Currently, Max is building a bigger winery together with two other winemakers and they will share the facilities, allowing for collaboration. The facility could also host other new craft winemakers in the future. Max believes that the region suffered from industrialization and this project would provide independent growers with a roof over their heads.

His hope to revitalize the authenticity of the region is also reflected in his work. The focus is on local grapes, with an intense desire to revive some of the forgotten indigenous varieties like Uva Tosca and Trebbiano di Spagna. The other tended grapes are: Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro (red), Lambrusco Fioranese, Lambrusco di Sorbara and Trebbiano Modenese.

Max harvests by hand and is intensely detail-oriented in order to allow himself to minimally intervene during the winemaking process. All grape varieties are vinified separately and once the alcoholic fermentation is complete, they are assembled following Max’s interpretation of depending on the vintage and vessels. Sulfur addition is done in minuscule quantities (between 10 to 15mg/L) immediately after the end of alcoholic fermentation. The final blend is then bottled together with must from the previous vintage or grape sugar, without added yeast, in order to undergo the second fermentation in bottle. All sparkling wines are therefore refermented in bottles, unfiltered and without disgorgement.

Shipping Details

 **DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, WE HAVE AN UPGRADED, INSULATED SHIPPING MATERIAL TO PREVENT DAMAGING THE WINE IN TRANSIT. THIS INCREASES SHIPPING TO $30/ BOX TEMPORARILY UNTIL THE WEATHER COOLS DOWN. **

US Natural Wine ships once a week, every Wednesday. All orders should be placed by Tuesday at 10am in order to be picked up from our distributors and out on Wednesday's delivery truck.

Shipping cost is 18 bucks a box (up to 12 bottles) so we highly encourage picking up more than 1 bottle for the best value!

At $18, we have some of the most competitive shipping rates compared to other low-intervention wine e-commerce, which can range from $20-$25 a box. Ultimately, we eat the cost of shipping more often than not because wine can be damn heavy. As a small business, we are simply unable to offer free shipping. We can't thank you enough for your understanding!