Valfaccenda Vindabeive Nebbiolo

Roero, Piedmont, Italy Tucked into Valfaccenda, a small valley between Canale and Cisterna in the Roero, Luca Faccenda works alone and by hand, farming his often perilously steep vineyards organically, striving to make wines that speak of these hills. Vindabeive is his entry point: an approachable, joyful expression of Nebbiolo that shows what Roero can do when you stop trying to compete with the Langhe. Sourced from Luca's younger vines planted over Roero's soft, sandy soils, this is Valfaccenda's "picnic wine," made for drinking immediately. Winemaking is intentionally unfussy: a portion is destemmed whole berry while the rest goes in as whole clusters, undergoing a short carbonic maceration before pressing and finishing fermentation in neutral barrel. The result is bottled just months after harvest, preserving all its freshness and charm. Ruby red with a bright, clear rim, the nose is fragrant and light-footed, with lifted red fruit, floral notes, and a whisper of fine herbs. On the palate it's invigorating and refreshing, with red berry fruit, lively acidity, and a light-footed style that makes it endlessly drinkable. At a gentle 12% alcohol, it's the kind of bottle best served slightly chilled, ideally outdoors.