Fontanafredda
Barbera d'Alba Superiore Papagena 2024
| Denomination | DOC Barbera d'Alba Superiore |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 14.0% by volume |
| Area | Piedmont (Italy) |
| Grape varieties | 100% Barbera |
| Aging | Aged in French oak (Allier) for about one year, followed by further ageing in bottle for approximately 12 months after bottling (in January following the harvest). |
- Origin and grape variety: 100% Barbera from Serralunga d’Alba, in the Langhe area of Piedmont
- Designation and alcohol content: Barbera d’Alba Superiore DOC, 14.5% vol, vegan certified
- Vinification: Fermentation in steel at 30–32°C with pumping over and maceration for 10–14 days
- Ageing: 12 months maturation in Allier French oak followed by around 12 months in bottle
- Taste and pairings: Full-bodied structure, savoury blackberry finish, ideal with red meats and cheeses
Description
What kind of wine is it
Papagena Barbera d’Alba Superiore by Fontanafredda is a still red wine with a full and mature character, made exclusively from Barbera grapes. Its sensory profile opens with intense aromas of plum and cherry, enriched by spicy notes of cinnamon and cloves, as well as elegant toasted hints of coffee and cocoa. On the palate, it is full-bodied, supported by well-balanced acidity and soft tannins that enhance its enveloping nature. The sip finishes with a long savoury finish, enhanced by a distinct aftertaste of blackberry jam.
Where does it come from
This Barbera d’Alba Superiore originates in Piedmont, among the renowned hills of the Langhe, specifically in the municipality of Serralunga d’Alba. The vineyards thrive on slopes situated at an altitude between 270 and 300 metres, benefiting from a favourable western exposure. The medium-textured soil, characterised by a marked calcareous component, is crucial for the quality of the grapes. This specific terroir encourages an intense fruity expression and gives the wine a pleasant savoury drive, ensuring a solid and extremely balanced structure.
How is it produced
The manual harvesting of the grapes takes place between the end of September and the beginning of October. The process continues with fermentation in stainless steel at a controlled temperature, enhanced by frequent pumping over and about two weeks of maceration to best extract colour and tannins. The wine then matures for about a year in French oak barrels from the Allier forest, acquiring elegance and delicate toasted notes, and is completed with a further twelve months of ageing before being released. The entire production chain follows strict standards, making this red wine suitable even for those following a vegan diet.
History and Curiosities
Originating from Serralunga d’Alba, in the heart of the Langhe, this pure Barbera celebrates the long tradition of Fontanafredda, a historic Piedmontese winery founded in 1878. The name pays tribute to a famous character from Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”, elegantly combining art and the local area. The prolonged ageing in French oak barrels gives structure and complexity to this vegan wine, the result of carefully cultivated vineyards. Created by oenologist Giorgio Lavagna, the wine guarantees a longevity of 5-10 years if stored correctly away from light.
Tasting notes
Perlage
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
16 - 18 °C
Longevity:
05 - 10 years
Decanting time:
1 hour
- Start up year: 1878
- Oenologist: Giorgio Lavagna
- Bottles produced: 7.000.000
- Hectares: 120
Like all beautiful things, Fontanafredda originates from a love story between the first King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II, and Rosa Vercellana.
Producers of Barolo and sumptuous wines of the Langhe, it was the scene of many firsts: they were the first Barolo to go overseas, the first to produce the first Classic Method in 1959, which was to be the forerunner of Alta Langa.
The founding principle of the winery is the concept of community.
Since 2018, Fontanafredda has been cultivating 120 organically certified hectares that are the setting for Italy's first Storytelling Village ('Villaggio Narrante'), which is still home to 12 families of workers who make the village an authentic village, alive and productive.
Fontanafredda is also hospitality, a meeting place where everyone is welcome thanks to its 4-star hospitality.
Today, the company preserves intact the testimonies of its noble past - the hunting lodge, the village, the extensive cellars, the vineyards - but continues to renew itself and experiment, perfecting what nature and history have handed down. For this reason, in the Langhe, where vines and wine bind generations to each other and shape the landscape, Fontanafredda is an essential reference point. The expression of a wine culture that comes from the earth, from the vineyard, and is refined through the work and creativity of people.
In 2021, the Alta Langa DOCG Contessa Rosa Rosé 2014 was named 'Best Sparkling Wine in the World' according to Tastingbook 2021.
In 2022 the BAROLO SERRALUNGA 2018 entered the TOP100 of WINE SPECTATOR in 78th place. Read more
| Name | Fontanafredda Barbera d'Alba Superiore Papagena 2024 |
|---|---|
| Type | Red green still |
| Denomination | Barbera d'Alba DOC |
| Vintage | 2024 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 14.0% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 100% Barbera |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Piedmont |
| Vendor | Fontanafredda |
| Story | History and Curiosities Originating from Serralunga d’Alba, in the heart of the Langhe, this pure Barbera celebrates the long tradition of Fontanafredda, a historic Piedmontese winery founded in 1878. The name pays tribute to a famous character from Mozart’s "The Magic Flute", elegantly combining art and the local area. The prolonged ageing in French oak barrels gives structure and complexity to this vegan wine, the result of carefully cultivated vineyards. Created by oenologist Giorgio Lavagna, the wine guarantees a longevity of 5 0 years if stored correctly away from light. |
| Origin | Serralunga d'Alba, Langhe, province of Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy |
| Soil composition | Medium-textured soil, tending towards calcareous |
| Cultivation system | Guyot |
| Plants per hectare | 4,500 vines/ha |
| Harvest | Late September - early October |
| Fermentation temperature | 30–32 °C |
| Fermentation | 10–14 days |
| Production technique | Fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature (30–32 °C) with frequent pumping over and maceration for 10–14 days; ageing in French oak (Allier) for about 1 year, followed by bottle ageing for about 12 months. |
| Wine making | Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature (30–32 °C) with frequent pumping over to optimise the extraction of tannins and colour; maceration lasts about 10 days, followed by ageing in French oak (Allier) for about one year and further ageing in bottle for around 12 months. |
| Aging | Aged in French oak (Allier) for about one year, followed by further ageing in bottle for approximately 12 months after bottling (in January following the harvest). |
| Residual sugar | 1.5 gr/L |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |