Cellar Raid Highlight: Hidden Gems
Cellar Raid: Half Priced Bottles of 750ml Wine Every Tuesday in our Enoteca.
At Cinghiale, we don’t just build a wine list - we curate a journey through the rare, the exceptional, and the downright thrilling. Italy’s wine culture is as diverse and layered as the country itself, and our cellar reflects that spirit. Beyond the iconic names like Barolo and Chianti, hidden treasures await discovery - wines that challenge the familiar, surprise the senses, and bring new stories to the table.
This week, we’re raiding the cellar to spotlight the fun and the obscure. These bottles may not have household names, but they’re every bit as serious and meticulously crafted as our headliners. From forgotten native grapes to unique regions with cult followings, these wines are bold, soulful, and worth savoring. Whether you're an adventurous drinker or a seasoned oenophile, we guarantee these selections will spark conversation and create lasting memories.
This Week’s Featured Selections:
Carema, Ferrando “Etichetta Nera” 2017
Region: Carema, Piemonte
Grape: Nebbiolo
Why It’s Special: Carem is one of the most northern appellations in Piemonte, nestled in the foothills of the Alps, making it a completely unique environment for Nebbiolo. The cooler climate of Carema gives this wine a distinct elegance and vibrancy that sets it apart from the more famous Barolo and Barbaresco. The high-altitude vineyards are terraced on steep slopes, allowing the grapes to slowly ripen, preserving their natural acidity and giving the wine a stunning freshness.
“Etichetta Nera” (Black Label) is the top expression of Nebbiolo from Ferrando, a family-run winery that has been the leading producer in Carema for generations. This wine is crafted from the oldest vines on the estate, resulting in a wine that is incredibly concentrated yet refined. Ferrando’s mastery in producing wines that balance power with finesse shines through in every bottle.
The soils in Carema are rich in granite, slate, and morainic deposits left by ancient glaciers, giving the wine its mineral backbone. The steep, rocky slopes also contribute to the wine’s pronounced minerality and freshness, with an underlying tension that makes it incredibly age-worthy. This unique terroir is unlike anything else in Piemonte, and it imbues “Etichetta Nera” with a sense of place that is unmistakable.
The 2017 vintage produced a wine of incredible balance. Ferrando’s meticulous care in the vineyard and cellar resulted in a wine that offers layers of red cherries, cranberries, wildflowers, and hints of mountain herbs. The tannins are firm yet fine, providing structure without overwhelming the wine’s delicate elegance.
Carema is a tiny DOC with very limited production, and Ferrando’s “Etichetta Nera” is a wine that’s increasingly hard to find. Only a few thousand bottles are produced each year, making it a coveted bottle among Nebbiolo enthusiasts. The combination of scarcity and quality ensures that each bottle is a rare gem - a reflection of both tradition and the rugged beauty of the Carema region.
Carema, Ferrando “Etichetta Nera” 2017 is a Nebbiolo unlike any other - crafted in the dramatic vineyards of the Alps, it offers a rare combination of power, elegance, and minerality. This wine whispers of the mountains, offering a more delicate but deeply complex experience.
The limited-production reflects the Ferrando family’s dedication to tradition and their mastery of this unique terroir. With its fine tannins, bright acidity, and complex flavor profile, “Etichetta Nera” promises a drinking experience that is both sophisticated and deeply connected to the precipitous landscape of Carema.
Montefalco Sagrantino, Paolo Bea “Pagliaro”
Region: Montefalco, Umbria
Grape: Sagrantino
Why It’s Special: Paolo Bea is considered one of Italy’s most iconic natural winemakers. The Bea family has been crafting wine in Montefalco since the 1500s, and they remain deeply committed to preserving traditional, artisanal winemaking techniques. No chemicals, pesticides, or synthetic products are used in the vineyards, resulting in pure, authentic expression of terroir.
Sagrantino is a native grape of Umbria and is renowned for producing some of the most tannic wines in the world. “Pagliaro” showcases Sagrantino’s bold nature, with dense, firm tannins balanced by rich fruit and complex earthy undertones. It’s a wine that embodies power and structure, with an ability to age beautifully for decades.
Paolo Bea is a pioneer of natural winemaking, which means “Pagliaro” is produced with minimal intervention. Fermentation occurs with wild, native yeasts, and there is no filtration or fining. This results in a wine that is alive and constantly evolving in the bottle, with deep, natural complexity. Every bottle of “Pagliaro” is unique, with slight variations that reflect the vintage and terroir.
While many Montefalco Sagrantino wines lean toward being very bold and oaky, “Pagliaro” stands out for its natural, elegant approach. Despite its tannic structure, it offers remarkable finesse and balance, with notes of blackberries, dark cherries, licorice, and earthy herbs. This combination of intensity and finesse makes it a standout among Sagrantinos.
Due to its structure and depth, “Pagliaro” pairs perfectly with rich, hearty dishes like braised meats, aged cheeses, and game. It can stand up to bold flavors and brings out the best in Italian classics like cinghiale ragù and grilled lamb. Its versatility with food, despite its power, is one of its secret charms.
This wine is a bold yet balanced Sagrantino that showcases the best of Paolo Bea’s natural, biodynamic winemaking. It’s rich fruit, firm tannins, and earthy complexity make it a wine that rewards patience. With its long aging potential and artisanal craftsmanship, “Pagliaro” is not only a collector's dream but also a delicious dive into the world of Sagrantino.
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Tommaso Bussola "Vigneto Alto” 2011
Region: Valpolicella Classico, Veneto
Grape: Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara
Why It’s Special: Tommaso Bussola is a renowned producer in the Valpolicella region, crafting some of the most highly regarded Amarones. “Vigneto Alto” is sourced from a top single vineyard in the Valpolicella Classico zone, known for producing exceptional Amarone wines. The elevation of the vineyard helps preserve the acidity and balance in the grapes, even in such a rich and powerful style of wine.
Amarone is made using the ancient appassimento method, where the grapes are dried for several months after harvest to concentrate their sugars and flavors. This labor-intensive
process creates wines with incredible depth, power, and complexity. The long drying process results in rich, raisin-like flavors, and “Vigneto Alto” offers a profound expression of this tradition.
Bussola’s attention to detail in both the vineyard and the cellar has earned him a reputation for crafting some of the most expressive Amarones in the region. His wines are known for their intensity, richness, and depth, and “Vigneto Alto” is his flagship bottling, showcasing the highest quality fruit and meticulous winemaking.
The 2011 vintage was ideal for Amarone production, offering a long growing season with warm days and cool nights. This allowed the grapes to achieve optimal ripeness, resulting in a wine that is full-bodied and bold but still retains beautiful balance and structure. This wine displays flavors of dark cherries, dried figs, dark chocolate, and spices, with a velvety texture and firm tannins that promise longevity.
Single vineyard Amarones are rarer and more prestigious than standard Amarone bottlings. Bussola selects only the best grapes from this high-elevation vineyard, producing a wine with panache and depth that sets it apart from others in the region. The limited production ensures its rarity and collectability.
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Tommaso Bussola “Vigneto Alto” 2011 is an outstanding execution of single-vineyard Amarone, crafted by one of Valpolicella’s most revered producers. With its rich, intense flavors, and incredible aging potential, this wine stands out as one of the finest Amarones available. Its combination of traditional appassimento wine making and Bussola’s careful craftsmanship makes it a bottle that is few and far between, perfect for those looking to experience the profundity and power of top-tier Amarone.
As we wrap up this week’s Hidden Gems Cellar Raid, we hope you’ve discovered new and exciting bottles that reflect the diversity, history, and artistry of Italian winemaking. These selections offer more than just delicious flavors - they tell the stories of passionate winemakers and ancient terroirs that are often overlooked but deserve to be celebrated. Whether you’re a seasoned wine lover or just beginning your journey, these inconspicuous treasures offer the chance to explore your palate with wines that are truly individual.
