2024 Braida-Bologna - Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG (750ml)

Braida takes its name from Giuseppe Bologna, a wheelwright nicknamed "Braida" who once tended a Barbera vineyard in Rocchetta Tanaro purely for his own table. His son, Giacomo, inherited both the vines and the nickname, and went on to transform Piedmont's approach to Barbera, most famously with the 1985 single-vineyard Bricco dell'Uccellone. After Giacomo's early death in 1990, his wife Anna and children Raffaella and Giuseppe carried the estate forward, and today the third generation still runs Braida from Rocchetta Tanaro, balancing serious, age-worthy reds with more playful, aromatic styles.

Brachetto d'Acqui is one of those playful expressions, made from the ancient, intensely perfumed Brachetto grape grown in the hills around Acqui Terme in Piedmont. The wine undergoes a gentle secondary fermentation that leaves it lightly sparkling and naturally sweet, with alcohol kept low, typically around five and a half percent, so the grape's aromatics stay front and center. It's best enjoyed young, while the fruit is at its freshest and most vivid.

The 2024 pours a light ruby with violet highlights and a fine, persistent perlage, opening with a heady bouquet of violets, rose, and sweet pea. On the palate, ripe strawberry, red currant, and sour cherry flavors carry balanced sweetness and a touch of tart freshness through a soft, playful finish. Serve it well chilled with dark chocolate, dried fruit and nuts, or a simple berry pastry.