Villa Giada. Gamba di Pernice

Vino da Tavola
Grape: Gamba di Pernice

Black tea and cloves mingle in a savoury mash of dark berry fruit, there is nothing that tastes like Gamba and I like it with lentils and game. 

Link to Villa Giada Producer Page

Gamba di Pernice is one of oldest Piemontese grape varieties. The vineyards are near Calosso, where the variety is thought to have come from. It is named after the vine’s red stem (leg of the Partridge, a French Partridge by the sound of it). These historical grapes need careful handling. It is very important that the de-stemming process is carried out with enormous care, the grapes must be kept intact if the wine is to be a good one. The fermentation takes place at a temperature of 29º C. and ends after about twenty days. It is this long fermentation and prolonged skin-contact that ensure a wine with a strong structure that, once bottled, needs at least a year in bottle before it is ready. The vines are in the Tre Termini vineyard near Calosso, it has a southeast to southwest exposure. Because the variety is not yet within the DOC system it is a Vino da Tavola and no mention of the vintage should be made, the lot number may give you a clue though.