Renowned Barolo producer Fontanafredda is available in Australia once again under a new distribution agreement with Vintners & Co. Merchants, a subsidiary of Calabria Family Wine Group.
Fontanafredda was founded by the first King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II, more than 160 years ago in the Barolo township of Serralunga d’Alba in Piedmont, northern Italy.
The King and his lover Rosa Vercellana planted the estate’s first vineyard, today named Vigna La Rosa in her honour.
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Launching the partnership, Fontanafredda Asia Pacific export area manager Andrew Gardiner last week presented a vertical tasting of the 2016, 2011, 2005 and 1996 La Rosa Barolo in Sydney.
He said the Serralunga vineyard provides a unique expression of Barolo courtesy of the sand and clay in its soil.
“That makes it a bit more fragrant than some others, which are quite dense and heavy and unapproachable in their youth,” he said.
Gardiner said Fontanafredda is one of the region’s largest players, producing 600,000 bottles a year of Barolo at different quality levels for a variety of brands.
“Our back vintage library of Barolo is the largest in the world; more than two million bottles,” he said.
Vintners & Co: Calabria’s new distribution arm
Calabria Family Wine Group launched its Vintners & Co. distribution arm in September 2021.
The Fontanafredda partnership bolsters foundation agreements with Italian brand Librandi, Argentinian winery Dona Paula and France’s Champagne Deutz.
“We are thrilled to be welcoming such a prestigious name in Italian wine to the Vintners & Co. Merchants portfolio,” said Calabria Family Wine Group sales & marketing director, Andrew Calabria.
“This new partnership presents an exciting opportunity for our team to tap into new sales channels as the thirst for great international wines grows amongst Australian wine drinkers.”
Vintners & Co. is also offering other Italian varietals from the Fontanafredda portfolio, including the Roero Arneis DOCG, Langhe DOC Nebbiolo, Piedmont DOC Dolcetto and Piedmont DOC Barbera.
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