La Stoppa 'Vigna Del Volta' Malvasia Passito Colli Piacentini DOC 500ml

The 50 hectare La Stoppa estate is situated in northwest Emilia-Romagna and run by Elena Pantaleoni and head vignaiolo Giulio Armani. Their 32 hectares of vines are planted on heavy clay soils and have been worked organically since the early 1990s, with organic certification in 2008. This distinctive dessert wine is 100% malvasia di candia aromatica, hand harvested from organically farmed 30-50 year old estate vines. Harvest takes place at normal ripeness, and bunches are sun dried for 5-15 days, then pressed by hand in a small vertical basket press known as a torchio. Fermentation takes place with native yeasts in barrel, and the wine is aged in used barrique for three years, with an additional two years in bottle. Named for the farmworker who tended these vines for many years, the wine is malvasia from a single vintage (in this case the 2011 vintage), although the Vino da Uve Appassite classification does not allow listing the varietal or vintage on the label. Layers of preserved lemon, balsam, and gingersnap mingle on a sweet palate that ends on a refreshing, lightly spicy note. A delightful after dinner sipper. Organically grown.