When we arrived at CA' Di FrarA Winery we were welcomed to this family winery. Besides tasting excellent wines what I remembered most about our visit was their beautiful vineyards. Located in The Valley of Rieslings this winery provide personifies Oltrepò Pavese's new direction in winemaking. I invite you to discover why Oltrepò Pavese's CA' Di FrarA Winery is so special.
Welcome to CA' Di FrarA Winery © Spaswinefood
Our Welcome to CA' Di FrarA Winery © Spaswinefood
Welcome to CA' Di FrarA WineryCA' Di FrarA, a family winery, founded in 1905 by Giovanni Bellani is located in Casa Ferrari (in local dialect Ca’di Frara). This family wine estate is now led by third generation, Luca and Matteo Bellani. Its wine story began when their great-grandfather bought vineyards in a narrow valley. Cà di Frara winery's Luca Bellani, an oenologist, who together with other family members continue to build a bright future. His mother Daniela who, together with her husband Tullio, dedicated their life's efforts to this winery. Tullio Bellani, understood from the beginning the importance of matching the right grape variety to the right soil and exposure. This family's efforts have paid off over time, gaining recognition for its quality wines. These days CA' Di FrarA is part of Oltrepò Pavese's new direction in winemaking.
CA' Di FrarA Winery: A Family Winery © Spaswinefood
Upon arrival Daniela Bellani took us on a brief trip to the vineyard, just across the street.
CA' Di FrarA Vineyard © Spaswinefood
Located in an area known as The Valley of Rieslings these Ca Di Frara vineyards are well managed to take advantage of the local microclimate and terroir.
Welcome to CA' Di FrarA Vineyard © Spaswinefood
Over the years, through the acquisition of vineyards (Oliva Gessi and Mornico Losana), targeted clonal selections, cellar expansion, and with the use of new materials and winemaking techniques have resulted in quality wines. By focusing on the maximum expression for each vineyard, this has allowed each of their wine labels to shine. The Oliva Gessi chalky soil makes the vineyards in that area perfect for the production of whites such as Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Malvasia and sparkling wine. Ca' di Frara is known for its Riesling and its dry, no dosage, metodo classico sparkling wines (the same method as Champagne, undergoing a secondary fermentation in the bottle). Their vineyards in the Mornico Losana area are planted with traditional red grape varieties and pinot noir to produce red wines.
Welcome to CA' Di FrarA Wines © Spaswinefood
Lombardy's Oltrepò Pavese is Home to CA' Di FrarA
Lombardy, a large and geographically complex wine region, has 5 DOCGs, 21 DOCs and 15 IGPs titles. Lombardy has become known for popular and well-known wine styles including the bright, cherry-scented Valtellina, Franciacorta sparkling wines, and Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico. Oltrepò Pavese is one of the larger regions with a long tradition of wine making history, which is at least 2000 years old. Oltrepò Pavese is known not only for its sparkling Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG, but also for its other wines. Oltrepò Pavese's CA' Di FrarA winery produces an excellent representation of these wines. Let's explore some of CA' Di FrarA wines.
Wine Tasting, CA' Di FrarA Winery
Wine Tasting, CA' Di FrarA Winery © Spaswinefood
1. Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG
We began with a CA' Di FrarA Pinot Nero sparkling wine.
CA' Di FrarA, Pinot Nero Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG
CA' Di FrarA, Pinot Nero, Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG © Spaswinefood
2. Oltrepò Pavese Riesling
Next, we were in for a special treat, their Riesling wines. Oltrepò Pavese Riesling wines are produced from Riesling Italico and Riesling Renano grapes. They are produced in both still (two versions: Superiore and Riserva with 24 months of bottle aging), and sparkling styles (Frizzante and Spumante Metodo Martinolti). Most of these wines are produced as Oltrepò Pavese Riesling DOC. Over our two day Oltrepò Pavese visit we tasted many excellent Riesling wines. CA' Di FrarA Riesling wines left me impressed.
CA' Di FrarA Winery, Olivia Gessi Riesling
CA' Di FrarA Winery, Olivia Riesling © Spaswinefood
Oltrepò Pavese’s new generation of winemakers, like Luca Bellani, signal the arrival of some of the bestexpressions of Italian Riesling. Riesling represents 10 percent of the region’s vines. In Italy, Riesling applies to either Riesling Italico, or Riesling Renano, (Rhine variety). This new generation of winemakers focus is on the Renano variety, emphasizing the grape’s local personality that is already starting to shift the public’s perception of Italian Riesling.
CA' Di FrarA Winery, Olivia Gessi Riesling Superiore 2017
CA' Di FrarA Winery, Olivia Gessi Riesling 2017 © Spaswinefood
CA' Di FrarA Winery, Olivia Gessi Riesling Superiore 2017 © Spaswinefood
Olivia Gessi Riesling Superiore 2017 © Spaswinefood
CA' Di FrarA Winery, Luca Bellani Vita Riesling 2021
CA' Di FrarA Winery, Luca Bellani Vita Riesling 2021 © Spaswinefood
CA' Di FrarA Winery, Luca Bellani Vita Riesling 2021 © Spaswinefood
This wine was a 2021 IGP from their Olivia Vineyard.
CA' Di FrarA Winery Olivia IGP 2021 © Spaswinefood
These were fabulous Riesling wines. Oltrepò Pavese’s new generation of winemakers now craft some of the most prominent expressions of Italian Riesling. Riesling represents 10 percent of the region’s vines. In Italy, Riesling applies to either Riesling Italico, or Riesling Renano, (Rhine variety). Riesling grapes occupy 1,300 hectares (1,000 Italico variety, 300 and growing of Renano). This new generation of winemakers are focusing on the Renano variety, emphasizing the grape’s local personality, and starting to shift the public’s perception of Italian Riesling. My understanding is that the goal for those engaged in the Valle del Riesling project, is for producers continue to make improvements to ensure that the local Riesling Renano earns the reputation as Italy’s most prestigious expression of the grape.
3. Oltrepò Pavese Pinot Grigio
While in Oltrepò Pavese we also tasted some wines that were not DOC's Or DOCG's, such as the following example, a Pinot Grigio DOP.
CA' Di FrarA, Pinot Grigio Oltrepò Pavese DOP 2021
CA' Di FrarA, Pinot Grigio Oltrepò Pavese DOP 2021 © Spaswinefood
CA' Di FrarA, Pinot Grigio Oltrepò Pavese DOP 2021 © Spaswinefood
We also tasted CA' Di FrarA Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir) wines. Pinot Nero is the major grape variety and it is used to make excellent sparkling wines and still red wines. The region is best know for its Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG, with Cruase being its flagship wine. The list includes: Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG, Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico Cruase DOCG, and Pinot Nero Della’ Oltrepò Pavese DOC.
4. Pinot Nero Della’ Oltrepò Pavese DOC
The last three wines poured that day were still Pinot Nero wines from their Oliva Gessi and Mornico Losana vineyards. Let's take a look at these Pinot Nero still wines. We were introduced to three 2019 Pinot Nero wines from different parcels 4, 17 (Mornico Losana ), and 18 (Oliva Gessi).
CA' Di FrarA Winery, Morinco Pinot Nero Riserva (Parcel 4), 2019
CA' Di FrarA Winery, Morinco Pinot Nero Riserva (Parcel 4), 2019 © Spaswinefood
CA' Di FrarA Winery, Losana Pinot Nero Riserva (Parcel 17), 2019
CA' Di FrarA Winery, Losana Pinot Nero Riserva (Parcel 17), 2019 © Spaswinefood
Pinot Nero Wines, CA' Di FrarA Winery © Spaswinefood
The third Pinot Nero was from the Olivia Vineyard.
CA' Di FrarA Winery, Olivia Pinot Nero Riserva (Parcel 18), 2019
CA' Di FrarA Winery, Olivia Pinot Nero Riserva (Parcel 18), 2019 © Spaswinefood
My first response was this tasting introduced me to some special wines. Now upon further reflection upon my introduction to these wines, followed by further research has given me a deeper appreciation of our CA' Di FrarA Winery visit. During our Oltrepò Pavese wine travels we were greeted by winery family. There were also those special times when we toured the vineyard.
CA' Di FrarA Winery © Spaswinefood
During our CA' Di FrarA visit it was a pleasure to discover their wines. This Oltrepò Pavese winery is one where the wines will get your attention. Clearly CA' Di FrarA is part of
Oltrepò Pavese's new direction in winemaking. I so look forward to sharing more on our vine-filled explorations in Lombardy's Oltrepò Pavese. I invite you to join me in my wine travels in Italy at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon, and at Spaswinefood on Twitter and Facebook.
CHEERS!
Sharon
October 2022
Oltrepò Pavese, Lombardy
© Spaswinefood
CA' Di FrarA Wines © Spaswinefood
CA' Di FrarA Vineyard © Spaswinefood
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