Italy produces some of the most versatile sparkling wines. You have playful pet nats, fresh Prosecco, herbal Lambrusco, and then some more serious metodo classico wines that compete with Champagne. Today I am excited to talk about a newer Metodo Classico wine from Elena Brovia and Alex Sanchez of Brovia and a Franciacorta from Ronco Calino. After a cold and snowy New York winter, I am really craving sparkling wines!

Brovia Spumante Anterse Metodo Classico Extra Brut 2020
 
Elena Brovia and Alex Sanchez represent the fourth generation of the Castiglione Falletto based Brovia estate. Known for their Barolo, I was excited to taste their first champagne method sparkling wine at a seminar in February. Named ‘Anterse’, meaning to braid or weave together- this represents the coming together of three local grapes, 55% Barbera, 35% Nebbiolo and 10% Freisa. 
 
I want to emphasize how innovative it is to co-plant and then blend these grapes together for a sparkling wine. Alex and Elena explained that Barbera has enough acidity even at mature ripeness so they’re able to avoid harvesting too green. This allows the completeness of Barbera’s aromatic profile to shine while avoiding underripe notes. The wine spends a full four years on the lees before disgorgement. The resulting profile is strikingly deep, with chalky minerality, flint, almond and jasmine. I am so excited to have this on the shelf at Chambers, and to see how this wine evolves over the years under the guidance of Alex and Elena- some of the most innovative growers & winemakers in Barolo. This wine perfectly represents Alex and Elena to me, innovating a new type of wine while honoring traditional methods and native grapes.

Ronco Calino Franciacorta Brut Nature 2018
 
Lara Radici is the estate owner, farmer, and winemaker of Ronco Calino. Her high elevation vineyards overlook both Lake Iseo and The Alps to the North. Here lies the heart of Franciacorta- except Lara is making her wines with more attention and longer aging than the Franciacorta appellation requires. Her soils are calcareous moranic gravel, the vineyards get great sun exposure, and everything is hand harvested. Today, I am highlighting her 2018 Brut Nature for its cool, lean, glacial, stony, and lemon curd notes. The blend here is 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir, aged 40 months sur lie with no dosage. This is truly stunning organic grower Franciacorta, worth a spot on your table this Spring!
 
-Marisa Licandro