Carema sits at the very edge of Piemonte, where the Alps rise abruptly and Nebbiolo—known locally as Picotendro—clings to vertiginous stone terraces carved by hand centuries ago. This is one of Italy’s smallest and most extreme DOCs, shaped by glacial moraines, sandy soils, and a mountain climate that once made full ripening nearly impossible. Today, with slightly warmer seasons, Carema delivers some of the most lifted, saline, and transparent expressions of Nebbiolo anywhere—more alpine filigree than Langhe muscle.

Togliana is among the tiniest voices in this historic appellation. Achille Milanesio farms less than three total acres, scattered across the village, planted to massal-selection Picotendro and worked entirely by hand under pergola training. Farming is organic, winemaking resolutely traditional: long macerations, slow élevage in large neutral oak, and zero cosmetic intervention. The result is the 2020 Carema Riserva—just 66 cases produced—a wine of tension, precision, and quiet authority that captures Carema’s rebirth in its purest form.

Why You’ll Love It

• One of the rarest Nebbiolos in Italy: only 66 cases from a nearly forgotten Alpine DOC

• Nebbiolo at its most refined—high-altitude, saline, energetic, and beautifully nuanced

• A true collector’s bottle you simply won’t encounter again

How to Serve It

• Decant briefly to let the alpine aromatics and mineral core unfurl

• Serve slightly cool (around 58–60°F) in Burgundy stems to highlight freshness and lift

• Pair with alpine cuisine: roast poultry, mushrooms, butter-sage pastas, or aged cheeses