Pignoletto, an extra touch for a grand sparkling wine. Cleto Chiarli Blanc de Blancs is summer elegance

The Chiarlis found the ideal growing conditions for the Pignoletto variety, also known as Grechetto Gentile, on eight hectares of the Cialdini Estate in 2014. As the name “Grechetto” suggests, Greece is the country of origin for this grape variety, which is cultivated in many parts of central-southern Italy. In Emilia, it finds the perfect habitat in the Appenine foothills between Modena and Bologna. Records from the 1600s speak of its widespread presence.

However, what particularly interests us about Pignoletto is its versatility. Few grapes can produce both sparkling wines destined for immediate drinking and still white wines with excellent structure and longevity. The versatility extends to important dessert wines, all from the same terroir. This variety manages to combine a beautiful aromatic profile, (so much so that in the past it was thought to be related to Riesling or Pinot Blanc), with a slight tannic component and an aromatic range befitting a great wine.

Proposed as a blend with estate-grown Chardonnay grapes cultivated in the hills of Bologna, Cleto Chiarli's Blanc de Blancs Brut, with its fine and persistent bubbles and a fresh, fruity bouquet, seems to have been created for relaxing seaside summer days, snacking by the pool, or on terrace enjoying a seafood meal. Sunny days, cool sea breezes, and inviting shade form a worthy backdrop. Blanc de Blancs has an alcohol content of twelve degrees and should be served at a temperature between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius.