Creme de la Carema!
4/27/26 -
Carema is a very special and small appellation on the Northern edge of Piemonte, bordering Valle d'Aosta. The landscape is gorgeous with handmade stone terraces carving through the steep landscape and Mont Blanc towering over the vines. The Ferrando estate is synonymous with this little gem on the edge of Italy, as they have been making wine here for over one hundred years. I was able to taste through seven wines with Vittorio Garda and Simone Pozzo (pictured above), the new guard at Ferrando. Vittorio is native to the area and has been making wine under his 'Il Sorpasso' label for over ten years making this a natural transition.
While Carema certainly appeals to the Barolo or Barbaresco lover since the reds are 100% Nebbiolo (known locally as Picotendro), I find it to have its own personality compared to its neighbors to the South. These are true mountain wines, gaining finesse from higher elevation, steeper vineyards, and intense diurnal swings. Because its cooler than the Langhe, Southern exposition and harvesting in October is important to the grapes achieving full ripeness. Vittorio also told us that because this land is less cultivated, they see great biodiversity in the soils. The Ferrandos 2.5 hectares of vines stretch across a South facing amphitheater. The Etichetta Bianca is a blend of all fruit from this curve, while the Etichetta Nera is a specific parcel selection and is made in much smaller quantities.
Carema's unique vine training system where pillars are anchored by stone terraces with the Pergola system on top.
From sparkling wine, to white wine, to red wine, everything here is showing well now. If you want to treat your future self, be sure to cellar either vintage of Etichetta Bianca or Etichetta Nera, with a slight tilt towards the 2021s. Vittorio calls 2021 a 'classic vintage' due to higher levels of snow and rain and cooler temperatures overall.
Cheers to the new guard at Ferrando! I am excited to continue tracking these wines for many years to come.
-Marisa Licandro
