Il Chiosso was founded in 2007 by Marco Arlunno – a Ghemme winemaker – and Carlo Cambieri, vineyards owner and supervisor.
The project was born by the fusion of the skills in winemaking of Marco, who has got a Master’s degree in oenology, and the passion of Carlo, who has got an engineering Master’s degree, and was always fascinated by the world of winemaking.
Historically the “Chiosso”, in Northern Piedmont represents a vineyard that is bordered by a stone wall: the walls symbolizes the importance attached to a particular cru by winemakers for its propensity to create unique wines. Abstracting the same concept we wanted to create a wine that really excel in the quality of all denominations vinified in the new winery in Gattinara. It is conducted personally by Marco and Carlo and has the ability to get the grapes from the most important historical crus of the hills of Northern Piedmont in prestigious names as Gattinara, Ghemme and Fara.
In 2013 Il Chiosso put their first 7,000 bottles of the 2007 vintage base Gattinara on the market. Marco believes that the 2008 and 09 vintages will be better, sos much so that from the 2008 they produced a reserve. The wines are aged in oak casks from 30 to 55 hl. Large casks are ideal as they allow one to evaluate and appreciate the differences of the vintages without altering the characteristics of the wine.
In our absolute conviction that the Upper Piedmont terroir can give incredible wines in any aspect, we have set ourselves the goal to cultivate personally the vineyards in the most absolute respect for nature and its rhythms, in the most traditional ways.
Our Vineyards
Our vineyards are displaced over the whole Northern Piedmont area, where the Sesia river marks the natural boundary between the provinces of Vercelli and Novara, and divides the hills of Gattinara D.O.C.G. and Ghemme D.O.C.G.
The whole area is characterized by lean soil, which gives a clearly acid reaction. This Morainic-Alluvial soil was originated by deposits of eroded debrises, carried downstream by the Monte Rosa glacier.
The hills of Gattinara vary in height between 918 and 1,476 feet above mean sea level, the geological profile identifies a huge mother of porphyritic rock, quartz, granite, tuff, schist, volcanic conglomerate, arenaic and marl with a very rich ferrous component that determines the typical reddish color of the soil and gives the wines an austere and very deep character.
Our Wines
GATTINARA DOCG RISERVA “Il Chiosso” – 2008
This wine comes from a careful selection of Nebbiolo grapes, harvested by hand, in the roughest area of the Gattinara hill. The Riserva is produced from one single vineyard “Galizja” and in only the best years as evidence of a unique wine capable of being the expression of a terroir with it’s own tastes and traditions. The vineyard “Galizja” is one of the most historic areas and one most suited for this denomination.
100% Nebbiolo: Vineyards from 15 – 60 years old with low yield per hectare. Harvesting by hand with special care taken to manage the soil and plants with rigorous selection of grapes in crates to allocate the best bunches for vinification.
Production area: Gattinara, in the province of Vercelli.
Grape: 100% Nebbiolo
Color: Deep ruby red with garnet red shades
Fragrance: noble and austere, large and elegant with special mineral notes
Taste: dry, warm and velvet, very structured
Winemaking and ageing process: Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature.
Aging: In large oak barrels for 36 months.
Aging in bottles: 21 months
Serving temperature: 18°C
Recommended serving glass: Baloonglass
The Riserva IL CHIOSSO is produced only in the best years. The wine is made with only the grapes from the oldest vines; all the vineyards are strictly managed by hand and grown on a unique terrain; acid-based volcanic porphyry of various colors ranging from bright red to pale pink.
Download Gattinara “Il Chiosso” Riserva 2008 Specification PDF
GATTINARA DOCG “Galizja” – 2009
Production area: Gattinara, in the province of Vercelli.
Grape: Nebbiolo (locally called Spanna) from 90% to 100%; are allowed Vespolina max4% and Bonarda, total of no more than 10%.
Blend of grapes: 100% Nebbiolo
Color: Deep ruby red with garnet red shades
Fragrance: Fine, airy, with hints of liquorice and spicy, tobacco, coffee
Taste: Very structured, harmonious, very persistent, with a pleasantly bitter after taste
Winemaking and ageing process: alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature.
Aging: in large oak barrels for 36 months.
Aging in bottles: 9 months
Serving temperature: 18°C
Recommended serving glass: Baloonglass
Download Gattinara “Galizja” 2009 Specification PDF