2015 Giussepe Rainoldi 'Fruttaio Ca'Rizzieri' Sforzato di Valtellina

Sforzato or Sfursat is a style of wine that you wouldn't often see here in the states. It is made in a similar style to Amarone, in which the grapes are dried prior to being made into wine. This concentrates the sugars and the phenolics that give the wine its intense bouquet. It also dramatically reduces the amount of wine produced which means these are only available in very small quantities. This wine is sure to dazzle your senses. 

The Rainoldi family has been producing wines in this region since the late '50s but has been working in wine since the beginning of the 20th century. The estate has made big steps toward sustainability, with no plow agriculture, hydroelectric energy, and even minimizing their packing materials.

Fruttaio is the name of the loft where grapes are stored during the appassimento, and Cà means house in Valetellina dialect. Rizzieri was the name of the old owner of the building. In the northern Italian Alps, a patchwork of steeply terraced vineyards spans the northern side of a valley in Lombardy that stretches 25 miles east to west. The vineyards, all facing south, receive optimum sun exposure and are ideal for growing grapes. Winemaking here dates back to the first millennium. Today, Valtellina is the only well-established and recognized wine region almost completely dedicated to growing and making Nebbiolo.

Rainoldi strives to produce top-quality wine that respects both family tradition and the environment. Each parcel is harvested based on its altitude in order to maintain the right ripeness, and is vinified separately in a newly-installed, high-tech winemaking cellar. Due to the extreme steepness of each parcel in Valtellina, grapes are hand-harvested and then carried out by helicopter.

Aging: 18 months in French Oak barriques