Fontanafredda is a true Piedmont discovery: elegant red wines, fruity whites, and exquisite sweet wines are among the wines in the Fontanafredda range. The winery uses no chemical treatments in the vineyards and collects rainwater to irrigate the vineyards. The wines are part of the Piedmont ecosystem—and you can taste it. In November 2017, Fontanafredda was named European Winery of the Year by the American magazine Wine Enthusiast—a well-deserved award!
The grapes come from the vineyards around the town of Alba. To preserve its fruit, the wine undergoes a relatively short fermentation on the skins after harvest, lasting a maximum of ten days. Fermentation of this Barbera grape variety takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with regular circulation of the must. This ensures better extraction of the tannins and color. The Papagena was then placed in French oak barrels where malolactic fermentation took place. This red wine remained there for a year before being aged in the bottle for another year.
Fontanafredda's Papagena D'Alba emerges in the glass in a deep, dark ruby red with purple highlights. The bouquet unfolds aromas of ripe fruit, particularly plums and cherries, with hints of cinnamon and clove. These notes are rounded out with coffee and cocoa. On the palate, this red wine begins with a warm, full body and intense fruit. These impressions are replaced by soft tannins and a pleasant acidity. The long finish is characterized by notes of blackberry jam.
