I first visited Valtellina with someone whose family had a home there in 1998. We went to Sondrio, drove around and visited wineries. The views were incredible and the terracing spectacular. I wasn’t yet working in the wine business but I was studying wine in Milan at a local wine school. This wasn’t primarily a wine trip but we did visit a number of wineries and it was among the first wine trips I have ever been on. At the time, we didn’t visit Mamete Prevostini’s winery but it was the first I had heard of it. Fast forward 19 years and I decide to do a presentation on wines from Lombardy for the Society of Wine Educators conference. The first winery that came to mind was Mamete Prevostini for a few years. First because the wines are wonderful, second they are available in the US, third he is the President of the Consorzio, and fourth, I had just tasted one of the wines at the Gambero Rosso tasting and knew that I wanted that wine for my presentation, his Sfursat.
The winery was started some 70 years ago by Mamete’s grandfather. The family’s first labor of love was their restaurant called Crotasc where his grandfather served the wines he made from local grapes. The wine business began after the restaurant.
Mamete has been running it since 1988. He is a firm believe in the concept of terroir and strives to bring both tradition and innovation to the wines. They look to make wines that are all about elegance, finesse and power. I think they have absolutely reached their desired goals.
The wine that I brought to my presentation was his Sfursàt, Albareda Sforzato di Valtellina D.O.C.G. He makes two of them. The other is called Corte di Cama Sforzato di Valtellina D.O.C.G. The name Sfursàt comes from their local dialect and from the practice of drying the grapes. You will also see it called Sforzato. Many will of course compare it to Amarone but I think it is less sweet and much easier to pair with many kinds of foods.
Generally speaking, the grapes are picked and laid on drying mats in cool, dry rooms, called fruttai. They are partially dried for 110 days. By January or February the grapes have lost 35-40% of their weight and the juice is now very concentrated. They are then fermented on the skins. The minimum alcohol is 14%. They can age for at least 5-7 years. They are legally allowed to use 90% Nebbiolo and 10% of other Lombard grapes.
Prevostini however makes his Albareda Sforzato from the best parcels in Valtellina Superiore D.O.C.G., subzones Sassella e Grumello. He uses 100% Nebbiolo appassito. The soils are 80% Sandy and 20% limestone but not calcareous rock, granite and clay. The vineyards are 350-550 meters above sea level. The wine is hand picked and put in small chests and dries in fruttai until end of January.
It is then pressed and fermented in stainless steel. It spends 21 days macerating with the skins. It then spends 20 months in French oak and 10 months in the bottle before release. The yields for this wine are extremely low, 18 hl/ha. The acidity is 5.8 g/l and the alcohol 15.5%. Retailing for around $40, I think it’s a steal for both Amarone lovers and Barolo fans.
Nebbiolo from the Alps as they like to call it has all the wonderful characteristics of wines from mountain viticulture including great acidity and a certain cool climate elegance that I think is a common thread throughout mountain wines in general and his wines in particular. I found the Albareda vibrant with loads of layered and nuanced flavors of black fruit, violet and cedar as well as sweet spice and pepper. It was divine and a frigid day such as today is a perfect one for this wine. I only wish I had a steak in the other room cooking or lamb roasting or something that would live up to a wine like this. Gorgonzola could work as well and Polenta.
While I served the Sfursat, I would be remiss not to mention the numerous other wines for which Mamete Prevostini is famous including those made specifically from sub-zones Sassella, Grumello and Inferno as well as his Riserva D.O.C.G., San Lorenzo Superiore D.O.C.G., Sommarovina Valtellina Superiore D.O.C.G. – Sassella and the young red wines such as Botonero I.G.T. Rosso Terrazze Retiche di Sondrio and Santa Rita D.O.C. Rosso di Valtellina, both made with Nebbiolo as well as “Monrose” I.G.T. Terrazze Retiche di Sondrio – Rosato made with Nebbiolo vinified as a white grape. He makes a couple of white wines as well “Opera” I.G.T. Bianco Terrazze Retiche di Sondrio with Chardonnay and Sauvignon, and “Vertemate” I.G.T. Bianco Terrazze Retiche di Sondrio – Passito made with Gewurztraminer and Riesling appassiti. I’ve never tried the whites and I look forward to doing so on my next opportunity. It would also be very exciting but incredibly hard work to harvest in this part of Italy. I love these two photos that the winery sent me showing the heroic nature of their vendemmia or harvest.
See what our Italian Food Wine & Travel Enthusiasts have to offer and follow us on Twitter at 11:00am ET using the hastag, #ItalianFWT as we discuss food & wine from Valtellina:
Jennifer Martin will share The Valtellina: Home of Chiavennasca on Vino Travels.
Camilla M. Mann will be dishing on “Short Ribs + the Balgera Valtellina Superiore Inferno.” on Culinary Adventure with Cam
Katarina Andersson will share “Valtellina – Winemaking in a Mountain Landscape” on Grapevine Adventures
Martin Redmond writes “A Taste of Valtellina: 2014 ArPePe Rosso Superiore Paired With Wild Mushroom Ragout over Creamy Polenta” on Enoflyz Wine Blog
Jeff Burrows shares “Double Secret Winery: Giorgio Gianatti in Valtellina” on Foodwineclick
Wendy Klik brings “Celebrating Love: Pork Filet Mignon with Valtallina Wine” to life on A Day In the Life on the Farm
Li Valentine shares “A Taste of Valtellina with Nino Negri and Carpaccio” on The Wining Hour
and I’m sharing “Exploring the wines of Mamete Prevostini in the Valtellina on Avvinare.
I need to make it to this region. The Alpine regions are stunning. Looks like you’re due for another visit too. : )
Can’t wait to go. Was just thinking about walking with my little one on their wine trail. Maybe a little much at 3…:)
I’ll bet every one of the winegrowers needs to have a stone mason on staff, amazing. Thanks for sharing the harvest photo, I was interested to see the cable car they had set up, a little like the monorails in Cinque Terre!
So true. The terraces are incredible. The photos were given to me for my presentation this summer. Love them.
What great photos. Makes me want to book a flight….that might be easier than it was trying to locate the wine here LOL. Thanks for hosting Sussanah.
Thanks I got them from the winery. Amazing right!!
Wow! This is as beautiful, informative post, Susannah. Thanks for sharing Mamete Prevostini with us.
What delightful read Susannah! I love the story…and Provostini sounds like an amazing producer! I’ll certainly keep an eye out for his wine. But in any case I want to try a Sforzato. I think I’d prefer something drier than Amarone…
Loved your presentation at SWE2017 conference! The Crotasc restaurant pic is lovely… I think I’ll transport myself there and drink the Albareda Sforzato di Valtellina! I wasn’t able to participate this month but learned a lot from you and the other #ItalianFWT folks. Nice post Susannah!
Great article Susannah, I loved their Albareda Sfursat too when I visited them. :-))
Reblogged this on avvinare and commented:
Valtellina seems to be getting more attention than it used to and I for one think that was long overdue. I first discovered the area thanks to a friend who lives there over 20 years ago. They make wonderful wines and the landscape is breathtaking. Now that the New York Times is giving it a lot more coverage, I am sure many people will be going to the area to visit and drinking the amazing wines from there. I certainly hope so. Here are a few posts I have written about the area.