I hope you can join me on Instagram at @vignetocomms as I speak with Lia Cieck of Cieck Winery. We’ll discuss her wine journey and her family winery as well as their signature variety, Erbaluce. Erbaluce bianco. hails from Piedmont and the wine you have probably heard of is Erbaluce di Caluso which is now a denominazione d’origine controllata (D.O.C.) e garantita (D.O.C.G.) wine. The wines produced using this variety tend to have great acidity and minerality, floral and fruity aromas and flavors with a bitter almond finish.

Apparently it was often used in sparkling wine in the past and can still be found in the passito version as well. The origins and DNA relatives of the grape are not fully identified. Nor is the origin of the name Erbaluce. Some say that is comes from the brillant color of the grape variety.

It grows in different areas in Piedmont and can be used in Canavese denominazione d’origine controllata (D.O.C.), Colline Novaresi D.O.C., Coste della Sesia D.O.C.,Piemonte D.O.C. and Erbaluce di Caluso or Caluso D.O.C.G. wines. In the provinces of Torino, Biella and Novara, the grape is known as Greco. The grape is sensitive to oidium as well as frost. While it is a very vigorous grape variety, its production is not consistent. I look forward to learning more tomorrow from Lia. Join us…