About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
The Chardonnay is grown in the Costigliole area of Piedmont.
Vinification
The grapes are harvested in mid-August at optimal ripeness. The wine is produced by the traditional method. Alcoholic fermentation and initial maturation take place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks before the tirage liqueur is added.
Ageing
Following tirage, the wine rests on its lees in bottle for 24 months at 13 °C.
Tasting profile
Fragrant, with a delicate, mineral palate.
Label / history
Giuseppe Contratto founded the winery in 1867. Contratto produced Italy’s first vintage sparkling wine made by the traditional method. The business remained with Giuseppe Contratto’s descendants for more than a century and, by the end of the twentieth century, supplied wine officially to several European royal courts and personally to the Vatican.
Carlo Bocchino, a winemaker from Canelli, acquired the company in 1993, subsequently enlarging its grounds and equipping its tasting rooms. Contratto became part of La Spinetta in 2011 under its owner, Giorgio Rivetti.
The winery’s underground cellars are cut into a limestone and tuff hill, 32 metres below ground, and extend across approximately 5,000 m². Their depth maintains a constant temperature of 13 °C and natural humidity throughout the year. They have been state-protected and included on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2011.
