Irresistible Italy: Highlights from Lago di Como Wine Festival 2023 – Lake Como

On a recent trip to visit friends in Lake Como, we were very fortunate to experience wine tasting right by the lake. After a lovely lunch, as we were walking towards the direction of the Funicolare (one that brings you up to the town of Brunate), we passed by Fontanelle di Piazza Cavour and we saw several wine producers getting ready for an event—it was, to our surprise, the opening of Un Lago Di Vino or the Lake Como Wine Festival 2023.

After touring the charming town of Brunate, it was time to discover the wines and the winemakers who were taking part. It was an incredible tasting experience and we didn’t even have writing materials. Nevertheless, it’s great to just savor the wines and not worry about forgetting the details. 

There were producers from different regions like Veneto, Campania, Tuscany, Lombardy, and Piedmont, among others. Here are some of our favorite bottles from fantastic winemakers that made the event and the experience unforgettable.

Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC by Azienda Agricola Margherita

This bottle is made from 100% Nebbiolo grape. It’s vibrant ruby in the glass, delicate on the nose, and has subtle spice accents. The tannins are quite solid which makes it full in the mouth and with a moderate finish.

It’s best to pair it with braised beef and stewed pork dishes. We recommend not only during meals but having a glass beside you while reading or writing works too.🍷📝

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Le Origini Barbera IGT by Stefano Losi Vini

100% Barbera wine proudly made in the Province of Pavia in the Lombardy region. It is medium to full-bodied with great persistency—a definitive sign that this bottle is well-made. This will pair well with grilled or roasted red meats and gamey dishes.

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Aglianico Sannio DOP by Azienda Agricola Terrantiqua

Grown on the hills of Sannio in Benevento, this 100% Aglianico bottle is deep ruby in the glass with savory aromas of red fruit on the nose. It has a firm structure and harmonious tannin and acidity in the mouth. This bottle boasts a distinct minerality brought about by its terroir which is rich in shell and fish fossils. Pair this with Pecorino Romano or Asiago cheeses and stewed meats.

If you like wine tastings, it’s an event you should not miss when you’re in Lake Como. There will be two more editions happening this year, one in July and one in October.

Photo of the Day | Salve!

Location: Dozza, Italy

Tourism

Irresistible Italy: Stefano Losi Vini

At the Lago di Como Wine Festival, we came across Azienda Agricola Stefano Losi. We were guided by Piercarlo Losi in the tasting and he chronicled to us its winery’s deep and rich history of wine-making tradition. He let us try most of their offerings that day but the ones we loved were Riesling, Il Bricco, Bonarda, and our favorite the Le Origini.

Le Origini Barbera IGT

100% Barbera wine proudly made in the Province of Pavia. With 13.5% ABV, this bottle is fermented for 8-10 days in temperature-controlled tanks. It is medium to full-bodied with great persistency, a definitive sign that this bottle is well-made. This will pair well with grilled or roasted red meats and gamey dishes.

The Stefano Losi property has over 60 hectares with half dedicated to growing grapes while the rest are crops like corn and wheat, and fruit-bearing trees like apples, peaches, and pears.

The vineyards are situated on the hilly part of Montebello della Battaglia and are blessed with southwest sun exposure that’s very ideal for the vines. Over the years, they have accumulated farmlands in different communes and neighboring towns like Borgo Priolo, Bobbio, Corvino San Quirico, and Casteggio.

Una storia con l’amore per Famiglia e passione il Vino

The winemaker Stefano Losi continued to build the family business a success which his father, Pietro Losi, founded in the 1950s. He dedicated his time, sweat, passion, and knowledge to retain his father’s tradition as well as the patriarch’s first customers.

Today, the wine-making tradition of producing high-quality wines continues with the support of Matteo and Piercarlo, the 3rd generation of the Losi legacy. It is brilliant to have young blood and talent consolidated in the business so that tradition is maintained and new technologies are introduced.

Other notable products by Stefano Losi Wines are Oltrepo Pavese Barbera DOC, Bonarda Dell’Oltrepo Pavese DOC, Pinot Nero IGT, Il Bricco, Riesling DOC, Pinot Spumante Brut IGT, and many others.

Azienda Agricola Stefano Losi
Strade per Casteggio 64
Montebello della Battaglia, Pavia, Lombardia, Italy
Contact: +39 338 9899706; info@stefanolosivini.it

Photo of the Day | Entrez

Location: Mougins, France

Tourism

Irresistible Italy: Bersano Vini

Bersano Badarina Barolo DOCG 2016

We were fortunate to try the Bersano Badarina Barolo DOCG 2016 single vineyard bottle from Serralunga d’Alba. The terroir’s soil is mainly made up of sand and limestone. Vinified in stainless steel, with 3 years aging in large Slavonian and French oaks, and another six months in the bottle, this vintage has produced 13,000 bottles.

Bersano is a brand synonymous with high-quality production. Given that their vineyards are situated in an area that has one of the best microclimates in Langhe, this wine exudes a complex bouquet with an elegantly balanced flavor. It is intense ruby in the glass and full-bodied and harmonious in the mouth.

Arturo Bersano founded the winery in 1907 and the company has grown to be one of the most important players in Langhe in the Piedmont region. In 1985 Arturo’s friend, Ugo Massimelli, took charge of the brand’s helm. Old Bersano traditions were maintained and new innovations were implemented as well. To date, Bersano is able to produce 1.2M bottles yearly.

We met Federico Orione, Ugo’s grandson, and at a young age, he has been actively involved with the family business. “We are approaching 40 years since my grandparents took over the Bersano winery and who knows we might be releasing a special bottle commemorating Famiglia Massimelli under the Bersano branding.”, Orione said. 

When asked what perfectly pairs with this bottle, Orione shared: “In our family kitchen, we pair it with Brasato and some of our family’s favorite aged cheeses. We open a Barolo bottle for formal dinners and special celebrations.”

Cantina Bersano
Piazza Dante, 21 14049 Nizza Monferrato, Asti, Italy
Contact: +39 0141720211; wine@bersano.it

Photo credits: Federico Orione