About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
The grapes are harvested in the final week of summer from vineyards in Oltrepò Pavese, while the Chardonnay comes from Piedmont. The vines are 40–50 years old on average.
Grapes
Pinot Nero accounts for 80% of the blend and Chardonnay for 20%.
Ageing
The wine rests on its lees for 30 months at 13 °C.
Tasting profile
The bouquet is fresh and fruity, with mandarin aromas.
Label / history
Approximately 25,000 bottles are produced annually.
Giuseppe Contratto founded the winery in 1867. It remained in the Contratto family for more than a century before being acquired in 1993 by Carlo Bocchino, a winemaker from Canelli, who expanded the grounds and equipped the tasting rooms. La Spinetta acquired Contratto in 2011 under its owner, Giorgio Rivetti.
Contratto created Italy’s first vintage sparkling wine made by the traditional method. By the end of the 20th century, it supplied wine to several European royal courts and to the Vatican.
The winery’s underground cellars are carved 32 metres into a limestone and tuff hill and extend across approximately 5,000 square metres. Their depth maintains a constant temperature of 13 °C and natural humidity throughout the year. Since 2011, the cellars have been included on the UNESCO World Heritage list and protected by the state.
