From: Monferrato, Piemonte, Italy
Blend: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Taste: It showcases a bright straw yellow color. The nose reveals delicate aromas of small white flowers, sourdough, and bergamot cookies. It is refined and elegant on the palate, offering fresh citrus flavors, aromatic herbs, and a hint of fresh bread crust. The perlage is creamy and persistent, adding to the wine's refined and sophisticated character. A concise core and concentrated texture add extra dimension to this sophisticated sparkling wine, allowing each note to come into its own and evolve. A fantastic alternative to champagne that’s incredibly food-friendly and made with precision and care.
Pairing: With its bright citrus flavors, aromatic herbs, and creamy perlage, it pairs beautifully with seafood, light pasta dishes, fresh salads, and citrus or soft/aged cheese-forward dishes. Think Linguine with Lemon and Basil Pesto, Duck Breast with orange glaze, Arugula and Citrus Salad with toasted almonds and a citrus vinaigrette, or even Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms with ricotta and herbs. With warming months on the way, this Yotam Ottolenghi recipe would be a great pairing and something to look for in the warmer months.
Crisp Zucchini Blossoms Stuffed With Goat Cheese
By Yotam Ottolenghi
About. Contratto was founded by Giuseppe Contratto began vinifying Moscato grapes from the Monferrato region in 1867, producing some of Italy's first sparkling wines refermented in the bottle. With a bold vision and meticulous craftsmanship, the Contratto family started building its historic cellars, which were finally completed in the early 20th century.
In the early 1900s, Contratto expanded its reach to foreign markets, gaining international acclaim for its exceptional quality and prestige. By 1910, Contratto had become synonymous with world-class sparkling wine, earning the honor of being the official wine supplier to the Vatican, the Belgian royal house, and the royal family of Savoy in 1913.
In 1919, Contratto produced its first vintage Italian sparkling wine, a groundbreaking move showcasing a single vintage's unique characteristics. A year later, in 1920, the winery ventured into producing vermouths and liqueurs. Remarkably, the processing techniques and recipes used today remain largely unchanged, offering a taste of the 1920s in every bottle.
The Contratto family remained at the helm of the winery until 1993, when the Bocchino family, known for their eponymous distillery, took over. They dedicated themselves to restoring the Wine Cathedral, internal courtyard, and tasting room, breathing new life into this historic estate.
Giorgio Rivetti, a passionate fan of Champagne, began collaborating with the Bocchino family and quickly recognized Contratto's immense potential. 2011 the Rivetti family purchased the winery, infusing it with the same philosophy and passion that made their La Spinetta winery famous.
Their first major decision was to acquire several hectares of vineyards near the town of Bossolasco in the highest part of the Langhe. The cool climate and unique terroir of the Bossolasco zone are ideal for cultivating Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the primary grapes used in the Alta Langa DOCG. With this acquisition, Contratto officially joined the Consortium of Alta Langa, becoming a benchmark for the entire denomination.
The Rivetti family's forward-looking philosophy, rooted in tradition, is evident in their choice to revive the historic advertising art of Leonetto Cappiello. Cappiello, one of the pioneers of modern Italian poster design, created Contratto's publicity campaign from 1922 to 1925. These iconic labels now adorn Contratto's sparkling wines, paying homage to the winery's rich heritage.
In 2014, the historic Wine Cathedral, entirely excavated by hand, was officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Extending over 5,000 square meters and reaching a maximum depth of 38 meters, the cellars are carved into marl sediment rich in calcareous tuff, maintaining a constant temperature of 13°C. This evocative space, steeped in history, provides the ideal environment for aging over 1.5 million bottles of Contratto's Metodo Classico sparkling wines.
Vintage Notes: Contratto's Alta Langa DOCG sparkling wine, sourced from the vineyards of Bossolasco, is crafted from a blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay. The grapes are meticulously destemmed and gently pressed to extract only the finest juice, known as the "flower must,” to emphasize each year's harvest. The first fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, followed by nine months of aging. A second fermentation in the bottle is then followed by at least 30 months of aging on the lees, with riddling done by hand. They produce an average of 80,000 bottles annually.
