RIESLING 'HERZU' ETTORE GERMANO 2023 DESCRIPTION
- Ettore Germano's Herzu represents a successful experiment in the cultivation of Riesling, a white grape variety typical of the Rhine area, in Piedmont. The Germano family, owners since 1856 of six hectares of land on the splendid Cerretta hill of Serralunga d'Alba and historically involved in the production of Barolo, has recently discovered the potential of growing white grape varieties in Alta Langa: the Riesling vineyards, planted in 1995, have given splendid results, thanks to the particular microclimate that distinguishes the area.
- The Riesling vineyards, which make up the Herzu, are located in the small municipality of Cigli, on the southern border of the production area of Dolcetto di Dogliani, on a hill with an average height of 550 metres, composed of calcareous soils. The limestone is less in percentage terms than in the Barolo area, but still in quantities that give a good structure and minerality to the wines.
- These characteristics of the soil, together with the cooler environment, given by the climate zone that exceeds 500 m above sea level and thanks to the proximity of the mountains and the Tanaro river valley, contribute to a "late" ripening of the white grape varieties, such as Riesling, giving freshness and complexity. This is how Ettore Germano's Herzu is born: a wine with marked "Nordic" characteristics, able to stand up to comparison with the great products of Rhine viticulture.
