Tre Bicchieri 2023: Piedmont's magical wine moment
Piedmont is experiencing a magical moment. It practically found itself catapulted into a bubble that it never wants to leave. In truth, this characterization may suggest something that arose by chance, but this is absolutely not the case. The goals achieved so far are the result of hard teamwork. The growth and renown of Barolo and Barbaresco is the result of Langhe's vintners coming together and joining forces. The success of Nizza, Ruché, Timorasso and currently Grignolino is, again, the result of teamwork made possible by banding together. Partnerships among winemakers, restaurateurs, hoteliers and institutions is also the basis for the growth of food and wine tourism throughout Piedmont. Indeed, the entire sector has been set alight—and so we really can't speak of Langhe alone or Nebbiolo in isolation: we have to consider "primus inter pares" all the other territories and grapes that over the past ten years have had the strength and tenacity to emerge from anonymity.
Pelaverga awarded. Barolo and Barbaresco on the rise in quality.
After Timorasso and Moscato, Grignolino and Ruché joined the Tre Bicchieri family in 2017. This year it's Pelaverga's turn, a fact that demonstrates how rich Piedmont is in terms of its ampelographic variety, and how many new opportunities have been created for lesser known territories and grapes to emerge. Castello di Verduno's fragrant and carefree Verduno Pelaverga '21 aptly represents the region's minor appellations and lighter reds, too long relegated to obscurity. Obviously Barolo and Barbaresco continue to dominate, even with 2018 (an unfairly reviled year). The region's most attentive producers, in fact, managed to craft some superb reds that favor delicacy and elegance to power, excellent wines to be approached without fear, even while young.
Special Award: Emerging Winery of the Year
We save the best for last: this year there was only one case where a winery earned Tre Bicchieri for the first time, but the extraordinary thing is that this same winery won one of our 11 special prizes. In fact, Lodali, which took home a gold with the Barbaresco Lorens '19, is also our Up-and-Coming Winery of 2022, thanks to the patience of mother Rita and the natural dedication of Walter Lodali.
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