Vintage Character San Barnaba Verduno Pelaverga 'Monvigliero' 2024 comes from the Verduno Pelaverga DOC in Piedmont, a tiny denomination tied closely to Verduno, the northernmost village of the Barolo area. The 2024 vintage is best understood as a fresher, more aromatic year, where moderate conditions favored lifted perfume and lively acidity over sheer weight, making it especially appealing for finesse and drinkability. Its origin is distinctive: Monvigliero is one of Verduno’s most celebrated hillside sites, and the local mix of calcareous marl and well-exposed slopes helps Pelaverga Piccolo express its hallmark delicacy, floral lift, and peppery snap.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairing Expect an intensely fragrant nose of wild strawberry, red cherry, rose petal, and pink peppercorn, with hints of white pepper, herbs, and a subtle stony note. On the palate, it is light to medium-bodied, crisp and energetic, with fine tannins, juicy red-berry fruit, and the grape’s signature spicy profile carrying through a clean, savory finish. This is a red that shines with aromatic precision rather than mass, and its brightness makes it particularly versatile at the table. Pair it with tajarin with butter and sage, roast quail, or seared duck breast.
Winery Background San Barnaba is a small family estate in Verduno focused on traditional local varieties and on preserving the identity of Pelaverga Piccolo, one of Piedmont’s rarest native grapes. The estate philosophy centers on attentive farming and restrained cellar work so that site and variety remain transparent in the glass; fruit is typically harvested by hand, fermented in a straightforward traditional style, and raised to emphasize freshness and purity rather than heavy oak influence. That combination of rarity, small-scale production, and devotion to Verduno’s distinctive wine culture makes San Barnaba a compelling reference point for lovers of authentic, terroir-driven Piedmont reds.