AR.PE.PE. crafts some of the most compelling Nebbiolo made anywhere in Italy. These are reference-point wines of remarkable finesse that reflect their place of origin perfectly.

In the recent history of Italian wine, I can think of few producers that have captured the public imagination like AR.PE.PE. This small, family-run property in Lombardy’s remote, mountainous Valtellina region is a “cult” winery in the best sense of that word: It’s a magical place, managed by a delightful family, producing some of the most beguiling expressions of Nebbiolo you’ll ever taste. It’s an expression defined by incredible finesse and perfume, lighter than most examples from Barolo and Barbaresco. Up in northern Lombardy, along Italy’s border with Switzerland, the vineyards of the Valtellina are a series of impossible-looking terraces planted mostly to Nebbiolo (or, as they call it locally, Chiavennasca). A handful of the top vineyard sites have been named and given a “Superiore” classification—the Valtellina’s answer to Grand Cru!

100% Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo), From the Grumello subzone, grown at 350-450 meters.