Wine With Wanda

Ciao, Gattinara!: There's Something Special About Travaglini

Cinzia Travaglini and her daughter Alessia Collauto Travaglini represent the 4th and 5th generations of their family's prestigious winery in the Gattinara region of Piemonte. 

Don’t let Gattinara’s tiny size fool you; its 100 hectares produce some of Italy’s most intriguing wines. And no serious conversation or tasting of Gattinara is complete without Travaglini. Not only does the Travaglini family’s 59 hectares represent more than half of Gattinara’s total size, their pioneering winemaking techniques, such as experimenting with barrique, are credited with elevating the quality and reputation of Gattinara.

Located in the northwest of Italy in Piemonte, Gattinara once spanned almost 600 acres and is actually an older winemaking region than Barolo. But phylloxera and a devasting hail storm destroyed the region and by 1905 winemaking had been abandoned. The Travaglini family has owned land in Gattinara since the beginning of the 19^th century and made small amounts of wine for local consumption but it wasn’t until 1958 that Travaglini Estate Winery was officially created.

image courtesy of Travaglini

I was recently invited to a tasting of Travaglini Gattinara with the dynamic mother and daughter team of Cinzia Travaglini and Alessia Collauto Travaglini. Their passion and poise were inspiring. I left the tasting with the feeling that the Travaglini family doesn’t just make wine, they ARE wine. Wine unites them as a family, it is their legacy and their future.  

Like Barolo, Gattinara DOCG wines are produced from 100% Nebbiolo. Travaglini’s wines have a finesse and freshness that can be attributed to the cooling winds of the nearby Alps. Of course, masterful winemaking is required to ensure that the natural beauty of these Nebbiolo grapes is not destroyed by over-manipulation. Gattinara’s judicious use of oak enhances and frames the flavors of Nebbiolo without dominating it. “Produce quality, maintain quality” is the Travaglini philosophy, said Cinzia. Cinzia’s husband, Massimo Collauto, assumed the role of chief winemaker from his father-in-law and mentor Giancarlo Travaglini and carries on this tradition. 


Another thing that you’ll notice about Travaglini is the distinctive shape of their bottle. Designed by Giancarlo Travaglini in 1958, the design cleverly catches sediment during pouring, eliminating the need for decanting. The dark color prevents light from passing through and negatively impacting the quality of the wine. Travagalini’s wines are made to age and the bottle design nurtures that process. 

Nebbiolo Coste Della Sesia DOC 2017 ($20.99), Travaglini’s entry level wine, is a fresh and fruit-forward introduction to their style. Aged in stainless steel (4 months) and Slavonian oak casks (10 months), it is crisp and easy to drink with crunchy red fruit flavors and a kiss of spice & herbs. A lighter-bodied red, you can even serve this slightly chilled.



Gattinara DOCG 2015 ($32.99)
Nebbiolo is often described as tasting of tar and roses and this wine elegantly expresses the grape’s grit and grace. Aged for 3 years in Slavonian oak casks, this full-bodied wine has a sinewy muscularity that keeps its red fruit and herbal flavors buoyant and not clunky.



Gattinara Tre Vigne DOCG 2013 ($49.99) is a blend of three single vineyard sites. The combination of Nebbiolo grapes from these unique sites creates a harmonious wine that is full and juicy with flavors of cherry, rose water, truffle, and black pepper. Aged for 4 years in Slavonian oak casks.

Gattinara Riserva DOCG 2013 ($59.99) is produced from Nebbiolo grapes from the best parcels in Travaglini’s oldest vineyards (35-60 years old). Aged for 3 years in Slavonian oak casks, its red fruit flavors are accented by hints of clove and bitter chocolate. 

Il Sogno 2014 ($127.99), which translates to “The Dream”, was inspired in name and style by Cinzia’s father, Giancarlo. A fan of Sforzato wines from Valtellina that are crafted from dried Nebbiolo grapes, Giancarlo imagined creating a similar wine in Gattinara. For Il Sogno, hand-harvested Nebbiolo grapes were air-dried for 100 days to intensify their flavors and sugars. The grapes were fermented once 50% of their water content evaporated. Aged for 40 months in Slavonian oak casks, it is rich, luscious, and sweet but good acidity and pops of spice save it from being cloying. A really beautiful vino! 


image courtesy of Travaglini

If you’re planning a trip to Piemonte, Travaglini welcomes visitors. Reservations required. 

A True Taste of Trentino: Ferrari Trentodoc Sparkling Wine

How can air be this fresh? My Manhattan lungs weren’t quite prepared for Trentino’s intense infusion of clean and crisp mountain air. I greedily gulped it in. My goodness, it was delicious. I felt absolutely rejuvenated. With air like this, Ferrari sparkling wines start off with a strong advantage — grapes that have been caressed day-in and day-out by the pristine mountain breezes that flow through Ferrari’s vineyards in the northeast of Italy. Lucky grapes.


Founded in 1902 by Giulio Ferrari, Ferrari is the most awarded and renowned producer of one of Italy’s finest wines: Trentodoc. Inspired by Champagne, Ferrari was determined to show the world that Italy could produce elegant sparkling wines with character and complexity. Recognizing that the soil and climate of Trentino provided the ideal conditions for his venture, Ferrari is credited for Italy's first significant plantings of Chardonnay. The name Trentodoc cleverly combines Trento, the wine’s city of origin, with DOC, (Denominazione di Origine Controllata), an official designation used to classify Italian wines. Produced in the same labor-intensive manner as Champagne, Ferrari and all Trentodoc wines are crafted using the Metodo Classico and its bubbles are created by a second fermentation in the bottle.

In 1952, Giulio Ferrari, who had no children, selected Bruno Lunelli, the owner of a wine shop in Trento, as his successor. Today, the third generation of the Lunelli family, Marcello, Camilla, Matteo, and Alessandro, are keeping the legacy alive and enchanting wine lovers around the world with their excellent wines and sparkling attitude. 

As an unabashed lover of sparkling wines, I’ve been a fan of Ferrari Trentodoc since I was introduced to their wines several years ago. I quickly noticed that my enthusiasm for Ferrari’s elegant bubbles was shared by my Italian friends living in my hometown of NYC. Whenever I showed up with a bottle of Ferrari, there were audible oohs and aahs of appreciation and anticipation. For them, Ferrari isn’t just a taste of home but a testament to fine Italian craftsmanship and the sanctity of celebration. Toasting with Ferrari means the moment, big or small, matters.

Freshly harvested Ferrari Chardonnay grapes.

The method is the same, and even the grapes, primarily Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but make no mistake, Trentodoc is no pale imitation of Champagne. These “sparkling wines from the mountains” stand on their own. As stated on the Trentodoc website, “Trentodoc is the expression of the land it comes from, Trentino. Trentodoc expresses its climate, high altitudes, and essence. From the highest Alpine peaks to the Mediterranean climes of the foothills where the temperatures are mitigated by the Ora del Garda winds, and the continental climate in the valley, every glass is unique and carries the character of its place of origin.”

Marcello Lunelli, Ferrari's chief winemaker, was animated and passionate during our vineyard stroll. 

It’s almost become a cliché but some variation of the phrase “great wine starts in the vineyards” has become a mantra for winemakers around the globe. But what does that really mean? Marcello Lunelli, Ferrari’s chief winemaker, emphasized that Ferrari’s wines don’t exist in isolation, they are an expression of the territory. “The fingerprint of a company like Ferrari is the territory. Without territory, you are nothing,” Marcello insisted.

Pinot Noir grapes at Ferrari awaiting the perfect moment for harvesting. 

Even with their impressive output of 5.5 million bottles per year, which represents 20% of Italy’s total production of Metodo Classico wines, Ferrari’s wines are never generic. To maintain a true taste of territory in every bottle; all of their grapes come from mountain vineyards. The warm days and cool nights of these higher altitude vineyards have a tangible impact on the grapes, imbuing them with an expressive range of flavors and aromas. Ferrari owns 100 hectares of certified organic vineyards and sustainability protocols are in place for their 600 grape growers.

Ferrari knows that fostering biodiversity in the vineyard is essential to growing healthy grapes. Bees are important partners in building a strong eco-system. 

Exported to more than 50 countries, Ferrari is not only the toast of Italy but beloved around the globe. And the experts have noticed. In 2019, The Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships recognized Ferrari as Sparkling Wine Producer of the Year. I concur that Ferrari’s wines hold their own against, and often outshine, other high-quality, traditional method sparkling wines.


During my visit to Ferrari, they confidently hosted a comparative tasting of their wines alongside some of the most celebrated traditional method wines from Italy and France. In my estimation, from non-vintage to top cuvée, single-varietal or blend, in each category Ferrari either dominated or tied but never faltered. Under the innovative and passionate leadership of the Lunelli family, Giulio Ferrari’s dream of producing world-class sparkling wines has been achieved. 

Are you ready to take your palate on a sparkling adventure with Ferrari? Here are a few of my favorite sips from their impressive portfolio.


Ferrari Brut Trentodoc ($27.99) was my dazzling introduction to Ferrari and never fails to impress me. Consistently crisp and clean, this 100% Chardonnay bubbly has the perfect balance between fresh flavors of citrus and apple with a hint of bready yeast.

A blend of Pinot Noir (60%) and Chardonnay (40%), Ferrari Brut Rosé Trentodoc ($35.99) is brazenly pretty with an elegant and streamlined structure. Like a ballerina, it twirls gracefully across the palate with flavors of fresh raspberry, strawberry, and a hint of crunchy red apple.


Ferrari Perlé 2013 Trentodoc ($42.99) is an excellent example of how beautifully an impeccably crafted Trentodoc can age. 100% Chardonnay, it is the more complex and nuanced companion to the Ferrari Brut. There’s a sultry smokiness to its citrus flavors. Hints of almond and warm bread crust are elegant traits found consistently throughout the Ferrari Trentodoc portfolio.

100% Chardonnay, Ferrari Riserva Lunelli 2009 Trentodoc ($64.99) spent an impressive minimum seven years aging on the lees. That extended yeast contact imbues it with a luxurious richness and complexity. Juicy and round with accents of toasty lemon meringue and a kiss of spice; this is a sexy and sophisticated sip. 

Last on my list but very far from least, Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore Trentodoc 2007 ($134.99) is one of my favorite wines that I tasted last year. 100% Chardonnay, it is a multi-dimensional sparkling wine with an expansive and elegant range of flavors and textures. Crisp, mineral, fruity, floral, and nutty with touches of honey and soft spice, it’s all in the glass. This is a wine to savor.

As a wine writer, and most importantly, a wine lover; I love trying new wines from every corner of the globe. But there’s an undeniable comfort and satisfaction in finding a producer that crafts wines that keep you coming back year after year. Consistently elegant, nuanced, festive, and drinkable, Ferrari Trentodoc adds an essential spark of joy and beauty to every occasion.


If you're planning a trip to Italy, Ferrari welcomes visitors for tours and tastings. And for an exceptional wine & dine experience, make a reservation at Ferrari's Michelin-starred restaurant, Locanda Margon.

The Oscars 2020: Sip Like the Stars with Champagne Piper-Heidsieck and The Family Coppola Wine Cellars

Ah, it’s that time of year when my dormant little girl daydreams of being a movie star bubble to the surface. Perhaps I’ll never get the chance to deliver my well-practiced Oscars® acceptance speech, but I can sip like a star of the silver screen thanks to Champagne Piper-Heidsieck and The Family Coppola Wine Cellars. On February 9^th, guests at the 92^nd Academy Awards will be toasting Hollywood’s biggest night with wonderful wines from these respected wineries and you can too.

Champagne Piper-Heidsieck is back for the 6^th year as the sole Champagne served during the Oscars® awards season. The snazzy retro look of this year’s limited-edition Oscars® magnum pays homage to the Roaring Twenties. Not only was the decade an exciting time for cinema but Prohibition, that atrocious affront to alcohol, started 100 years ago in 1920. Inspired by history, Piper-Heidsieck opted to adorn the bottle for the 92^nd Academy Awards with a replica of their label from the Prohibition era. “In the 1920s, bootleggers would smuggle Piper-Heidsieck into the United States where it would be secretly served in speakeasys throughout New York City. Now, Hollywood’s biggest stars will get to enjoy the same Piper-Heidsieck Brut during the biggest awards show of the year,” declared Benoit Collard, General Manager for Piper-Heidsieck. While the bottle with the Oscars® label isn’t for sale, the bubbly within is Piper-Heidsieck’s widely available and delicious Cuvée Brut (around $45). Look for Piper-Heidsieck’s iconic red label and create your own red carpet magic with this perennially elegant and exuberant bubbly.

All of Hollywood dreams of clutching a gold Oscars® statuette but only a lucky few are chosen. However, everyone can have that winning feeling with gleaming gold bottles of 92^nd Awards Chardonnay 2017 ($65) and 92^nd Awards Pinot Noir 2018 ($75) from The Family Coppola Wine Cellars. Representing the synergy between the worlds of cinema and wine, these limited-edition wines will be served at the 92^nd Oscars® and the official after party, the Governors Ball. Six-time Academy Award winner Francis Ford Coppola is also a celebrated vintner and his family’s winemaking tradition spans several generations. Limited supplies of Coppola’s 92^nd Oscars® bottles are available for purchase on the Coppola website. More than just eye- catching, these keepsake worthy bottles contain artfully crafted wines from Sonoma’s Russian River Valley. I recently tasted the Chardonnay and it is rich and creamy yet impressively crisp with a hint of tropical fruit. There’s all kinds of Oscars®-worthy delicious drama in this glass!