2015 Rainoldi Inferno Valtelina Superiore

We are always on the lookout for new Nebbiolo here. Sometimes that means we venture outside of Barolo and Barbaresco. Occasionally our search leads us to gold like the wines of Rainoldi in Valtelina. The 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.

Inferno comes from the smallest and rockiest subzone of Valtellina Superiore. The name Inferno alludes to the extreme nature of this sub-zone. When the sun hits the steep, terraced rocks in the summer, the angle of the terracing plus the heat absorption of the exposed rocks creates an extremely hot environment that is equated to hell. This Wine is built to last.

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: 20 months in Slovenian and French Oak