Our trip to northern Italy in late 2023 took us up into the Alps, a few metres from the Swiss border. Nebbiolo is best known as the grape of Barolo and Barbaresco but up in the mountains they make a wine called Valtellina. There’s a small family winery called Ca’ Bianche, high above the valley floor. Davide Bana, his wife Stefania, their two children, with some additional tractor help from his father Bruno. The first vintage was 2011. We were very taken with every Valtellina they make: 100% Nebbiolo, very cool, pure and silky – Rosso di Valtellina, Valtellina Superiore and Sforzato, made with grapes dried in baskets like Amarone but a little bit lighter in style.
