Oltrepò Pavese is in my opinion one of the most underrated wine-regions in Europe.

Here before Italy was made, Frenchmen settled for making wine outside France. Reason why a rich presence of Pinot Noir (both for reds and sparkling) and Riesling can be found here; it is -in other words- the Italian version of Champagne.

Nestled between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, this enchanting wine region is celebrated for its diverse landscapes, historic vineyards and geological uniqueness. The soils are predominantly composed of limestone (on top of the hills) and clay (on the bottom) Combine this with its favourable climate, consisting of mild winters and warm summers (a dream for the winemakers in the Champagne area), Oltrepò Pavese creates an ideal environment for grape cultivation and imparts distinct characteristics to the wines produced here.

The Calatroni family has as deep roots in the Oltrepò Pavese as their vines. Christian, indeed, represents the 8th generation of the winemaker family. This means that together with the lands, he inherited a bible of knowledge and tips about how to get the best out of the Oltrepò hills.

Despite the top-class wines made here, Oltrepò never got the respect it deserves, resulting in under-priced gems like Christian's wine.

All his wines are made in a full organic regime.

Among all, the Metodo Classico Poggio dei Duca Pas Dose (the Italian equivalent of the champagne method for sparkling) is my absolute favourite, a pure gem.

This single vintage extra brut made of Pinot Noir is a ode to the region, enclosing elegant and refined expressions. It comes from the most other vineyard of the company, located in the municipality of Rocca de' Giorgi (540m above sea level). With a minimum of 20% fermented in casks Austrian oak and a refinement in bottle for at least 48 months. Disgorgement à la glace carried out manually, like the old French tradition of Oltrepò.

Salute!

Fioravanti - Pinot Nero dell’Oltrepò Pavese DOC - 2021