New Year, New Wine: A brand new wine from our friends at Corvée

A few months ago, I shot off an email to Mario Esposito. I was noticing our supply of his extraordinary Corvée wines dwindle, and needed to place an order for a restock. It was a great time to check in about the quality of the recent harvest too.

His reply hit my inbox with a characteristic upbeat tone. “It was definitely intense, as everything was concentrated into a very short window. But we’re excited.”

He also shared with me recent happenings around the winery; a series of events combining hikes through the dramatic mountain scenery paired with guest speakers, all accompanied by a new white wine.

My first instinct was to grab my hiking boots and hop on a plane to join him. But the more practical side of me prevailed and I immediately asked what this new wine was, and how soon could we get some?

Mario calls it Altigo, a neologism that combines “Altitude” with “Vertigo” to evoke the emotion and sense of awe experienced in the presence of the Dolomite Mountains that surround the vineyards. And it’s a vibrant easygoing young wine meant to be enjoyed everyday… after a hike, après-ski or aperitivo.

The Corvée vineyards occupy a precarious perch along the steep mountain slopes of the Cembra Valley, just east of Trento. They span across a series of terraces, arranged more vertical than horizontal. From 400 meters to over 700 meters in elevation, each of these various tiers offers a different micro-climate, held together by dry-stacked stone walls, sculpting the mountains into a quilt of terraces. Each elevation is planted with a specific variety, all supported by tall pergolas that maximize exposure to sunlight and afternoon winds.

Corvée 'Altigo'

Dolomiti Bianco 2024

This white blend brings together three different varieties, from three different terraces at different altitudes: 400m, 500m and 700m, where the vineyards of Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Müller-Thurgau grow. The Grigio packs a punch of flavor, the chardonnay adds layered complexity and verve, while the Müller-Thurgau adds a touch of richness. If you’ve enjoyed any of the Corvée wines in the past, you know they are wines of great finesse, freshness and energy. My guess is you’ll be wanting to have a few of these around - a perfect everyday white with that blast of mountain freshness.

I’ve said this before: Corvée has the trifecta of a wine-importer’s wishlist: compelling wines, superb quality, and an affordable price tag! This new bottling is no exception, and I’m so thrilled to add it to the lineup.

Happy New Year!

Sébastien