Gavi Spumante Brut La Battistina NV

Sparkling Gavi is not seen so often as other types of Italian fizz, which is a bit of a shame really, because the grape variety it's made from, Cortese, is well suited to this style and deserves to be better known. It's made from 35 year old vines which are harvested slightly earlier than the main crop intended for their still wines. It has an enticing nose of crystallised ginger, citrus, apple, jasmine and a hint of spice and a delicate palate is rich with citrus and ripe apricot flavours. The mouthfeel is luxuriantly creamy and the finish dry and refreshing.

A splendid alternative to the ubiquitous prosecco, it makes an excellent aperitif with a sensible price tag.

Acquired by the leading Piedmont producer Araldica in 2002 the La Battistina estate is located near the town of Gavi and consists of 26 hectares of mature vineyards. And along with the neighbouring estate of La Lancellotta, from where grapes are also sourced, they are considered among the best sites in Gavi. The standards their wines reach quietly attest to this with the sparkling wines in particular being well worth their modest prices.