About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
The vineyards are situated on hills in Oltrepò Pavese, southern Lombardy. The soils are limestone and are compared with those of Burgundy and Champagne.
Vinification
The grapes are harvested by hand at optimal ripeness and collected in 16 kg crates. Gentle pressing extracts 45% of the must, which settles for 12 hours at a controlled 16 °C. Alcoholic fermentation takes place at 18 °C for approximately 12 days. The wine is produced by the traditional method.
Ageing
The wine remains in steel tanks until July of the year after harvest. Secondary fermentation and ageing in bottle last for at least 30 months, followed by a further two months after disgorgement.
Serving and pairing
Suitable as an aperitif and with fine salami, appetisers, risotto, pasta, seafood and sushi.
Label / history
Tenuta Il Bosco has belonged to the Zonin family since 1987. Its history dates to the Middle Ages, when Benedictine monks restored the land and its vineyards after a long period of neglect. Written references to winegrowing in Oltrepò Pavese appear in manuscripts by Pliny and Strabo, who in 40 BC associated the region with good wine, welcoming people and very large wooden barrels. Also known as Old Piedmont, the area became a centre of Italian sparkling-wine production in the late nineteenth century.
When the Zonin family acquired Tenuta Il Bosco, it had 30 ha of vineyards. Following subsequent expansion and investment, the estate now owns 152 ha.
The wine received bronze medals at the International Wine Challenge in 2017, 2018 and 2019; the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2019; and the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2016 and 2017. It received a silver medal at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2016.
