2022 Diego Morra Pelaverga Verduno 750 ml

Diego Morra’s Pelaverga di Verduno is a treasure—a Langhe insider’s wine if we ever saw one. 

The 12 hectares’ worth of these Pelaverga grape vines that still exist owe their lives to the passion of the townspeople of Verduno, where growing Nebbiolo for the Barolo DOCG is a much easier and more profitable activity. It’s kind of like the Napa Valley grower who still insists on growing Charbono out of pure love and stubbornness—even though Cabernet would fetch more than twice the price.

Diego and Francesca Morra’s families have lived in the Langhe for generations, and tradition and preservation are very important to them. That’s why they don’t use any pesticides or herbicides in the production of their wines, and why they insist on keeping the Pelaverga tradition alive. It’s a grape that offers up very pretty red fruits and exotic herbs in the aroma and is noted for its versatility at the table. We discovered the Morras’ bottling at Scala Osteria in Napa. We called the importer and, when they told us they only had a handful of cases, we asked them to custom-import this vintage for us. 

The wine’s a juicy little marvel: White pepper and fresh raspberries burst from the bowl with dark cherry, pine needles, and orange peel. The body is moderate and easy to drink, with bright red fruit and a mix of pine needles, pink peppercorns, and crushed granite. The finish is as lively as the nose with cranberry and spice. It’s a perfect wine for a caprese salad, smoked trout, or BBQ chicken, sure to thrill anyone who’s in love with Piemontese wines.