VENTUM Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG

Sforzato, known as the “son of the wind,” is a wine crafted through the natural drying of Nebbiolo grapes, aided by afternoon breezes from Lake Como. The grapes for Ventum are sourced from the highest vineyard of the San Lorenzo Convent (est. 1100), located at 600 meters altitude. The soil, primarily sandy, consists of glacial rock debris from the Ice Age.

Crafted from carefully hand-select grape bunches in the vineyard harvested in October; placed gently into small boxes and transferred to the “fruttaio” for about 100 days of drying during the cold winter. In mid-January, each withered bunch is meticulously inspected and chosen for pressing and vinification. This prolonged process heightens the anticipation for the first sip.

Ventum is a wine of depth, complexity, and balance, characterized by intense, enveloping tannins, vibrant red berries, ripe cherries, and spicy notes, with a remarkably lingering finish. Sforzato amplifies the elegance and finesse of Sassella’s exceptional terroir, delivering a bold, expansive, and truly distinctive wine unmatched globally.

Pair with:

Costine al Bitto (pork ribs with melted Bitto cheese); Salsiz (Valtellina cured sausage) with polenta; Foie gras with balsamic reduction or smoked venison carpaccio; Braised short ribs with red wine sauce or roast pheasant with chestnut stuffing; lamb shank with rosemary and garlic; Grilled porcini mushrooms with truffle oil or a hearty barley and root vegetable stew with smoked paprika; Aged cheeses like Gorgonzola Dolce, aged Gouda, or Bitto (Valtellina’s signature cheese).