La Grinozza Pet Nat NV

La Grinozza is a pétillant naturel made from 100% Grignolino grown in the western Langhe hills near Carrù, in the Cuneo province of Piedmont. Grignolino is a thin-skinned indigenous variety known for its high natural acidity, light color, and distinctly peppery, floral character. It is hand-harvested into small bins, undergoes spontaneous fermentation on skins for 5 to 8 days, and is bottled before fermentation completes so it finishes in the bottle. The wine is racked three times over three days prior to bottling. No sulfur is added and the wine is not disgorged, fined, or filtered. Sealed with a crown cap.

In the glass, La Grinozza is a pale ruby with a gentle, persistent mousse. The nose leads with red currant, wild strawberry, and fresh cherry, with a faint peppery lift and earthy undertones typical of the Grignolino grape. On the palate it is light-bodied, lively, and dry, with refreshing acidity and fine, integrated tannins. It comes in a 1-liter bottle.

Poderi Cellario bottles this wine with no added sulfites. Because the wine is undisgorged and continues to evolve in bottle, some sediment and variation between bottles is normal. Serve cold, around 45°F, and invert the bottle gently before opening to distribute the lees.