2025 Scavino, Paolo - Langhe Bianco Sorriso (750ml)

Paolo Scavino was founded in 1921 in Castiglione Falletto by Lorenzo Scavino and his son Paolo, and today the estate is run by fourth-generation Enrico Scavino alongside his daughters, Enrica and Elisa. Over seven decades, Enrico built the domaine's reputation by seeking out and acquiring some of Barolo's most storied Nebbiolo vineyards, now totaling roughly thirty hectares spread across villages including Castiglione Falletto, Barolo, La Morra, Novello, Serralunga d'Alba, Verduno, Roddi, and Monforte d'Alba. While Nebbiolo remains the family's calling card, they've also produced Sorriso, meaning "smile" in Italian, since 2000, an unconventional white blend that lets them experiment outside Barolo's traditional red-wine identity.

Sorriso combines Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier, an unusual trio for the Langhe that the Scavino family sees as a way to draw out the elegance and complexity their terroir can offer beyond Nebbiolo. The wine is vinified and aged entirely in stainless steel, with no oak influence, a choice that preserves freshness and lets the fruit and mineral character of the vineyards come through clearly.

The wine shows a pale straw yellow with emerald hues, opening with a fresh nose of white flowers, sage, and yellow and orange fruit, along with subtle mineral notes. The palate is delicate, with a soft texture balanced by clean, sapid acidity. It pairs nicely with risotto, light seafood, or simple vegetable dishes.