Cantina Massara Verduno Pelaverga | 2023

Cantina Massara’s roots go back to the 1850s, when Giovan Battista Burlotto began producing wines in Barolo’s outlier commune of Verduno. Honored with the title of Commendatore G.B. Burlotto, he became the village’s beloved figure, expanding the family’s clout and presence until 1940, when they split into three distinct entities: Cantina Massara, Castello di Verduno, and the longstanding Comm. G.B. Burlotto. Today, Cantina Massara is led by fifth-generation vintner Gian Carlo Burlotto, alongside his son Gianluca and daughter Claudia.

Verduno is synonymous with Pelaverga and today, less than fifteen wineries produce this historical grape. Technically the variety is Pelaverga Piccolo, sourced from three sites dominated by chalky soils, rather than sand. The grapes are crushed and left in contact with their skins for eight days in stainless-steel tanks under watchful temperature control. Delicate pump-overs followed by aging in stainless steel produce a style of Pelaverga that drinks well below its alcohol level of 14%. The trademark of Pelaverga is its white and snowy spices, which sync nicely with its spirals of strawberry fruits. Fragrant and pillowy, bucket this as a light red, and I dare you to have just one glass. ~Allegra A