2024 Braida-Bologna - Langhe Bianco Il Fiore (750ml)
Braida takes its name from a nickname earned by Giuseppe Bologna, a wheelwright known for playing a traditional Piedmontese handball game in the town squares. His son Giacomo inherited both the family's Barbera vineyard and the nickname, and went on to elevate Barbera from a simple, acidic country wine into something of world-class stature. Since Giacomo's death in 1990, the estate has been carried forward by his wife Anna and, since 2010, by their children Raffaella and Giuseppe, now representing the winery's third generation.
Il Fiore comes from the Serra dei Fiori vineyard in Trezzo Tinella, sitting 400 meters above sea level with full southern exposure, and blends Chardonnay with Nascetta, a semi-aromatic Piedmontese variety known for aging well. The vineyard is planted densely, with renewed shoots and a permanent natural cover crop under minimal organic fertilization. Whole clusters are gently pressed, and the wine ferments in stainless steel at a controlled, cool temperature before spending several months first in steel and then resting further in bottle.
The 2024 shows an intense straw-yellow color with a floral, aromatic nose that gives way to a clean, mineral-driven palate, backed by fresh acidity and real persistence on the finish. It's an excellent pairing for shellfish, vegetable quiche, or a hearty green salad.