Contratto

To wander through the caves at Giuseppe Contratto’s masterpiece of a winery in Canelli is to shake the living hand of almost 150 years of tradition of Italian sparkling wine. The very first bottles of Italian method champenoise were made here, as was the very first vintage dated Italian method Champenoise— Metodo Classico Extra Brut in 1919. The underground cellars, which rival the most spectacular in Italy, were dug out manually when the winery was renovated in 1899, took ten years to complete, and are more than 100 feet underground. At one time, wine was leaving from these cellars to destinations all over the world. Contratto was supplier not only to the Vatican, but also to the House of Savoy (the Italian Royal Family), as well as to the British monarchy. Contratto was shipped across the world as the beverage of choice for the ambassadors and colonial governors of the British Empire. Within Italy, the name Contratto itself is inextricable from the history of “bollicine”—the estate was for a long time the number one producer, predating the arrival of Franciacorta by 90 years.

In 1993, after 126 years in the hands of the Contratto family and somewhat in decline, the winery was sold to the Bocchino family, who own a local grappa distillery in Canelli. Carlo Bocchino and his family undertook an extensive restoration of the property, but found it difficult to manage both the distillery and the “bollicine” business. In 2007 he sought help. Carlo Petrini, president and founder of the Slow Food movement suggested that Bocchino meet Giorgio Rivetti, a long-time lover of sparkling wines and importer to Italy of some of the finest Champagnes (many of which Michael Skurnik Wines also carries: Aubry, Gaston-Chiquet, Egly-Ouriet). Giorgio came on as a secret consultant, but became so enamored with the project that in 2009 he and his brothers decided to buy Contratto from the Bocchino family. Negotiations finished in 2011 and Giorgio celebrated his new ownership of the Contratto winery with the release of the 2007 vintage.

Contrary to most sparkling wines in Italy, the focus at Contratto is on Pinot Noir. All wines are a minimum of 80% Pinot Noir with the balance as Chardonnay. The grapes come from the Alta Langa, the highest elevation hills of the Langhe. The labels are the original historic design of Leonetto Cappiello, considered one of the fathers of belle époque poster-advertisements.

VINEYARDS & VITICULTURE

The birthplace of Metodo Classico! The 19th century estate, with its cellars excavated by hand in 1900 and extended 100 feet underground, was bought by Giorgio Rivetti in 2011. Pinot Noir, sourced from high elevation vineyards in the Alta Langa, makes up the majority of all blends, with Chardonnay supporting. All bottles hand riddled to this very day.