The Italy Wine Project

Regions / Piedmont

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Verduno Pelaverga (Verduno) DOC

A single-village red from Pelaverga Piccolo, a grape rescued from a few Verduno vineyards in the 1970s and now the darling of sommeliers. Pale ruby, with a signature white pepper and strawberry nose, plus rose, cranberry and a savory, almost peppery-salty finish; light body, bright acid, soft tannin. Best served cool and young, though Burlotto's can go five years. It's what Barolo producers pour when they don't want Barolo, and it's become one of the most fashionable light reds in Italy.

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Bottles I'm chasing

ProducerWinePriceBuy
Comm. G.B. Burlotto
Verduno Pelaverga
The one everyone chases; white pepper, strawberry, rose, salty finish, sells out each spring.
$30 to $38Wine-Searcher
Fratelli Alessandria
Verduno Pelaverga Speziale
Nearly as good and easier to find; a little darker and spicier, pepper and cranberry.
$24 to $30Wine-Searcher
Castello di Verduno
Verduno Pelaverga Basadone
The Burlotto-family castle estate; lighter, floral, very pretty, widely distributed in the US.
$24 to $30Wine-Searcher