Valfaccenda Vindabeive Nebbiolo

Valfaccenda Vindabeive Nebbiolo comes from the Roero, the lesser-known half of Piedmont that sits across the Tanaro River from the Langhe's famous Barolo and Barbaresco zones. Luca Faccenda's entry-level Nebbiolo is sourced from younger vines on steep, sandy-soiled parcels and made for immediate drinking rather than the cellar, an intentional departure from the region's reputation for austere, age-worthy reds. The wine is bottled just months after harvest to preserve its freshness, clocking in at a gentle twelve percent alcohol. Luca Faccenda farms alone and by hand on parcels tucked into a small valley between Canale and Cisterna, working organically to make wines that reflect the Roero hills rather than mimic their celebrated neighbors. His approach to Vindabeive is intentionally unfussy: a portion of the fruit is destemmed whole berry while the rest undergoes carbonic maceration as whole clusters before pressing. Fermentation finishes in neutral barrel, allowing the character of Roero's soft, sandy soils to shape the wine's lighter frame. Those sandy soils give Nebbiolo a different structure here than it develops on the clay and limestone of the Langhe, and Luca leans into that character rather than fighting it. The wine shows a bright ruby color with a clear rim, offering a fragrant nose of lifted red fruit, floral notes, and a whisper of fine herbs. On the palate it's invigorating and refreshing, driven by red berry fruit and lively acidity, with a light-footed style that makes it endlessly drinkable. This is the kind of Nebbiolo that rewards a slight chill, ideally served outdoors with charcuterie, a simple roast chicken, or nothing more elaborate than good bread and cheese. It's meant for picnics and weeknight dinners, not cellars and ceremony. In stock at Off Premise in Lincoln Park.