Saturday Tasting Series: Northern Italian Quaffers

Welcome back to our Saturday Tasting Series! This week we will be yet again pouring some wines at the shop starting at around 1:30pm. Expect a laid back environment, with some interesting insights about both wines being shared by owner, and long time Sommelier Kerrie. We will have wine open until around 6pm, so come have a glass, chat with us, and maybe even walk out with new friends and a bottle of something for yourself!

This week we are pouring two high altitude, Northern Italian wines, perfect for a beautiful, sunny 80 degree Saturday!

2023 Ermes Pavese - Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle

The 2023 Ermes Pavese Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle is a singular white wine from the Valle d’Aosta, produced from 100% Prié Blanc grown at the highest vineyard sites in Europe, just beneath Mont Blanc. These isolated alpine vineyards, perched around 1,200 meters above sea level, are notable for their pre-phylloxera rootstock, a rarity preserved by the region’s remoteness. Ermes Pavese’s meticulous organic farming and traditional methods capture the crystalline purity, vivacity, and minerality that define this mountain terroir. As one of the most distinctive expressions of alpine viticulture in Italy, this wine embodies both the heritage of the Prié Blanc grape and the dramatic landscape from which it originates.

2022 Aldo Rainoldi - Valtellina Superiore Grumello

The 2022 Aldo Rainoldi Grumello is a classic red from the Valtellina Superiore DOCG in Lombardy, crafted entirely from Nebbiolo—locally called Chiavennasca—sourced from hillside vineyards between 350 and 600 meters above sea level. Produced by the historic Aldo Rainoldi estate, founded in 1925, this wine reflects the unique alpine terroir of the Grumello subzone, known for imparting elegance and complexity to Nebbiolo. The winemaking process includes aging in large oak barrels for 20 months, followed by additional maturation in steel and bottle, allowing the wine to achieve harmony and refinement. As an authentic expression of Valtellina Nebbiolo, the 2022 Grumello stands out for its balance, finesse, and its deep connection to the dramatic mountain landscape of northern Italy.