Ca' Bianca Nebbiolo 2021

Casa Vinicola Ca' Bianca opened in 1952 in the Alessandria area of Piedmont's Alto Monferrato — now part of the small commune of Alice Bel Colle near Acqui Terme. The winery name derives from 'al ca' bianche', the local Piedmontese phrase for the white-walled houses that dot the area. The estate's 39 hectares of vineyard fan out around the vinification and bottling cellar in a single contiguous block. In August 1997, the estate expanded with the acquisition of the Cascina Polsino farm, adding around 9 hectares under vine.

Barbera d'Asti is Ca' Bianca's headline grape and category — the climate of Alto Monferrato suits the variety particularly well, and the estate produces three distinct Barbera d'Asti cuvées each vintage. Beyond Barbera, Ca' Bianca produces Barolo (from Langhe), Gavi DOCG (Cortese-based whites from the Gavi designation south of Alessandria), Moscato d'Asti, and Brachetto d'Acqui (the lightly-sparkling sweet red of the Acqui zone). More recent additions to the line include Langhe Nebbiolo and Roero Arneis. Ca' Bianca operates as a Tenimenti — the Piedmontese term for an estate-group — under the Gruppo Italiano Vini umbrella.

Roast chicken, braised rabbit, mushroom risotto and aged Grana Padano; a mid-tier Piedmontese red for 2-6 years' cellaring.