This prestigious classic method owes its name to the Brut Riserva Novecento, a sparkling wine created in 1986 to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the Contratto winery one year early. It is made from 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay grapes from the vineyards of Loazzolo and Cassinasco, on the hills above the town of Canelli. After destemming, the grapes pass through the press without being crushed and the draining of the berries produces the must flower, the most precious part of the juice. The first fermentation takes place in steel tanks, followed by about 9 months of refinement, also in steel, and finally bottling. The second fermentation in the bottle is followed by at least 100 months of refinement on the lees, after which the remuage is done by hand. The result is a sparkling wine characterised by a beautiful, brilliant golden yellow colour and a very fine perlage. On the nose, the scents of panettone and candied fruit stand out, with elegant notes of honey and fruit in syrup. On the palate, however, it is elegant and well-structured, with fresh citrus notes accompanying a full, clean finish. Thanks to the very low dosage, this sparkling wine is also perfect throughout a meal. Try it with the classic saffron risotto.
Giuseppe Contratto founded his winery in 1867, vinifying Moscato grapes from the Monferrato area and producing one of the first Italian sparkling wines re-fermented in the bottle. Also in those years, the Contratto family began the construction of the historic winery, which was completed at the beginning of the twentieth century. From one result to the next, and from one market to the next, the Contratto winery has now passed the 120-year mark. In the meantime, the Contratto family was succeeded by the Bocchino family, already owners of the distillery of the same name, who invested in the relaunch of the company and began an important collaboration with Giorgio Rivetti, who had always been a great lover of Champagne. In 2011, the Rivetti family acquired the winery, giving new impetus to the production of quality sparkling wines and officially joining the Consorzio Alta Langa, becoming a point of reference for the entire denomination. In 2014, the historic Wine Cathedral of Contratto was officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This evocative place, rich in history, is still the scene of the long bottle-ageing of classic method sparkling wines.
Trentino Alto Adige 
