Valdisole Helios Rosso 2019
The tiny hamlet of Corneliano d'Alba, nestled quietly in a somewhat forgotten corner of Piemonte's Roero sub-zone, seems a town steeped in history and winemaking tradition; these undulating hills, celebrated for their sandy soils, have been home to vines for centuries, a steady stable of stalwart producers turning out classic wines for generations. Amidst all this history however, are some very new kids on the block! Valdisole was born in 2015 when Giuseppe Amato and Kyriaki Kalimeri, both coming from completely different professional backgrounds, decided to purchase a half hectare of vines. Giuseppe and Kyriaki are unabashed by how impulsive this journey into wine was, purchasing their first holdings online on a website that sold second-hand goods! Six years on, their vineyards are a combination of old and new plantings – a mixture of Piemontese classics like Nebbiolo and Arneis, as well the rarer Moscato Bianco, Malvasia Moscata, Pelaverga, Favorita, and more! – all within the DOCG Roero denomination. From the outset, their approach in the vineyard has been strictly natural and this philosophy continues to their work in the cellar. Piemonte is the only Italian region that does not allow for an IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica), meaning Giuseppe and Kyriaki chose to “downgrade” their production to “table wine” (no DOC status) in order to maintain their freedom and continue experimenting with unusual vinifications; as a result they are not allowed to indicate the grapes used in each wine.
Giuseppe and Kyriaki’s wines showcase the unmistakable delicacy and lift provided by the Roero's sandy soils, with a light (and often experimental) winemaking hand and pure fruit lending the bottles a raw energy that seems to lift them into a echelon well beyond any of the more stock-standard interpretations to be found in their region. ‘Helios’ is pulled from their more mature Nebbiolo plot (50-60 years old), vineyards with major exposure to the sun planted to a mix of gray marl, sand, and clay. After spontaneous fermentation, maceration is in steel tank, and aging is for 18 months in half new and half well-used barriques. The 2019 saw zero addition of sulfur throughout vinification and bottling. Earth-laden, ripe red fruits, wild strawberry, and crushed rose petal wind through a rich but pliant palate, with Nebbiolo's famously punchy tannins softened into something less astringent and more chewy, almost gastronomically mouth-filling. Lifted woodsy spice, burnt brown sugar, and balsamic tang offer a welcome savory dimension. A dynamic and unadulterated alternative to the more classical-leaning Nebbioli of the region.
Shipping Policy
Due to the restrictions of many state laws, we only ship wine to those states where direct shipment from a retailer is permitted by law; currently we ship to AK, CA, DC, ID, LA, MO, NE, NV, NH, NM, ND, OR, VA, WV and WY. This list is subject to change without notice. In addition, each state imposes limitations on the amount of wine any particular resident may receive by direct shipment. To ensure that you are able to order wine for direct shipment from our website, please consult the specific state requirements for your state.
Please note that all orders must be placed by persons who are at least 21 years old, and that age verification will be required upon receipt of your wine. No wine will be delivered to obviously intoxicated persons and any person unable to provide age verification will forfeit their right to receive the shipment until identification is produced. In such circumstances, the order may either be held in storage at a local depot of the shipping company until appropriate identification is produced, or shipped back to the winery. All associated costs will be the responsibility of and be charged to the customer.
Title to, and ownership of, all wine passes from Biondivino to the purchaser in the State of California and the purchaser takes all responsibility for shipping it from California to his/her home state. By arranging for transportation of the wine, Biondivino is providing a service to, and acting on behalf of the purchaser. By utilizing this service from Biondivino, purchaser is representing that he/she is acting in compliance with his/her local and state laws regarding the purchase, transportation and delivery of wine. The purchaser represents that he/she has obtained any required permission, paid any required fees, is working through properly licensed intermediaries where required, is legally entitled to take possession of wine and is legally entitled to take quantities ordered.
You will be charged the applicable sales tax, if any, assessed by your state for any shipment that Biondivino makes; otherwise California sales tax will be assessed on the sale. Shipping and handling costs are not included in the cost and will appear in the shopping cart before you complete your transaction. The carrier and service speed may vary by state and time of year, and Biondivino cannot take responsibility for the condition of any wine shipped by Ground.
Some of our products are sold on a "pre-arrival" or "futures" basis. These products are explicitly indicated as "pre-arrivals" or "futures" on our Website and newsletter. Biondivino will notify you by email when your "pre-arrivals" or "futures" have arrived and are ready to be shipped. You will be given the opportunity to coordinate the proper shipping address and method (we won't automatically ship out pre-arrival wines when they arrive).
Shipping Policy
Due to the restrictions of many state laws, we only ship wine to those states where direct shipment from a retailer is permitted by law; currently we ship to AK, CA, DC, ID, LA, MO, NE, NV, NH, NM, ND, OR, VA, WV and WY. This list is subject to change without notice. In addition, each state imposes limitations on the amount of wine any particular resident may receive by direct shipment. To ensure that you are able to order wine for direct shipment from our website, please consult the specific state requirements for your state.
Please note that all orders must be placed by persons who are at least 21 years old, and that age verification will be required upon receipt of your wine. No wine will be delivered to obviously intoxicated persons and any person unable to provide age verification will forfeit their right to receive the shipment until identification is produced. In such circumstances, the order may either be held in storage at a local depot of the shipping company until appropriate identification is produced, or shipped back to the winery. All associated costs will be the responsibility of and be charged to the customer.
Title to, and ownership of, all wine passes from Biondivino to the purchaser in the State of California and the purchaser takes all responsibility for shipping it from California to his/her home state. By arranging for transportation of the wine, Biondivino is providing a service to, and acting on behalf of the purchaser. By utilizing this service from Biondivino, purchaser is representing that he/she is acting in compliance with his/her local and state laws regarding the purchase, transportation and delivery of wine. The purchaser represents that he/she has obtained any required permission, paid any required fees, is working through properly licensed intermediaries where required, is legally entitled to take possession of wine and is legally entitled to take quantities ordered.
You will be charged the applicable sales tax, if any, assessed by your state for any shipment that Biondivino makes; otherwise California sales tax will be assessed on the sale. Shipping and handling costs are not included in the cost and will appear in the shopping cart before you complete your transaction. The carrier and service speed may vary by state and time of year, and Biondivino cannot take responsibility for the condition of any wine shipped by Ground.
Some of our products are sold on a "pre-arrival" or "futures" basis. These products are explicitly indicated as "pre-arrivals" or "futures" on our Website and newsletter. Biondivino will notify you by email when your "pre-arrivals" or "futures" have arrived and are ready to be shipped. You will be given the opportunity to coordinate the proper shipping address and method (we won't automatically ship out pre-arrival wines when they arrive).