Gattinara (1978)

About this wine

The 1978 Travaglini Gattinara showcases the elegance of aged Nebbiolo, offering a bouquet of dried cherries, leather, and subtle earthy notes. On the palate, it presents a harmonious balance of softened tannins and lingering acidity, leading to a refined finish. This wine hails from Gattinara, a region known for its volcanic soils, which impart a distinctive minerality to the wine. Travaglini, a family-run winery, is renowned for its unique bottle shape designed to catch sediment, ensuring a clear pour. This vintage exemplifies the longevity and complexity that Nebbiolo wines from this area can achieve over decades.

About the grape

Nebbiolo, the sole grape in the 1978 Travaglini Gattinara, is renowned for its high acidity and tannins, making it ideal for long-term aging. In Gattinara, located in northern Piedmont, Nebbiolo is locally known as Spanna and thrives in the region's unique volcanic soils rich in minerals like potassium, magnesium, and iron. This terroir imparts distinctive characteristics to the grape, contributing to the wine's complexity. Historically, Gattinara wines, including those from producers like Travaglini, have been esteemed for their longevity and depth, often rivaling the more famous Barolo and Barbaresco wines from southern Piedmont.

Quick facts

• 🍷 The Travaglini family, renowned for their Gattinara wines, has been producing exceptional Nebbiolo-based wines for four generations, with the fifth generation now involved in the winery.
• 🍾 In 1958, Giancarlo Travaglini designed the winery's distinctive bottle with a unique curve that fits naturally in the hand and helps catch sediment during pouring, eliminating the need for decanting.
• ⛰️ Gattinara's vineyards are situated in the rocky foothills of the Monte Rosa range, where the soil is rich in porphyry, granite, and iron, imparting a reddish color and unique minerality to the wines.
• 🌱 The Gattinara region experienced a resurgence in winemaking after the phylloxera plague and a devastating hailstorm in 1905, thanks to the efforts of the Travaglini family, who recognized the area's potential and revitalized its vineyards.
• 🏞️ The Travaglini estate owns 59 hectares of vineyards, primarily planted with Nebbiolo, covering roughly 50% of the total Gattinara DOCG, making them the region's foremost producer.

Palate profile

Producer

Travaglini, established in the 1920s by Clemente Travaglini in Gattinara, Italy, has been a family-run winery for generations. In 1958, Giancarlo Travaglini introduced innovative viticultural practices, including high-density planting and the use of barriques for aging, significantly enhancing the quality of their Nebbiolo wines. He also designed the winery's distinctive curved bottle, which aids in sediment collection and has become an iconic symbol of the brand. Today, the estate is managed by Giancarlo's daughter, Cinzia Travaglini, and her husband, Massimo Collauto, continuing the family's legacy of producing exceptional wines.