Brovia Anterse Extra Brut 2020
We have 12 in stock (Inventory is live and accurate)
Summer Shipping Advisory: Orders may be temporarily held during periods of extreme heat to ensure wine arrives in optimal condition.
View current shipping weather map →
The Land
Brovia is one of the reference names of Barolo, based in Castiglione Falletto since 1863. Anterse comes from the same Langhe hills that produce their famous reds, but it is not a Barolo. It is a sparkling wine, built from red Piedmont grapes grown on the calcareous marl of Castiglione Falletto and neighboring sites. The fruit comes off cooler, higher parcels where acidity holds, which matters far more for a traditional-method sparkler than for a powerful red. The name Anterse is Piedmontese dialect for to braid or weave together, a nod both to the three grapes in the blend and to the region's old habit of letting Freisa go lightly fizzy in the bottle.
The Wine
A metodo classico sparkling made like Champagne, from an unusual trio: roughly 60% Barbera, 30% Nebbiolo, and 10% Freisa, all from Brovia's own vineyards. The base wine is pressed pale off the red skins, then aged for years on the fine lees before disgorging with a tiny dosage of around 2 grams per liter, which keeps it firmly extra brut. Expect red currant, sour cherry, blood orange, and citrus pith, with a toasty, bready lees character and a chalky, savory finish. Fine, insistent bubbles. The 2020 season ran warm in the Langhe, so the base fruit was picked early to protect the acidity this style leans on. It drinks dry, tense, and distinctly Piedmontese.
The People
Brovia was founded by Giacinto Brovia in 1863 and has stayed in the family ever since, weathering phylloxera and two wars before the estate returned to full production in 1953. It is now run by the third generation, sisters Cristina and Elena Brovia together with Elena's husband, Alex Sanchez. They farm organically across some of the finest crus in the zone, Rocche di Castiglione, Villero, and Garblet Sue in Castiglione Falletto and Brea in Serralunga, though they have chosen not to pursue formal certification. Anterse is a newer project for a house better known for serious, traditional Barolo, and it carries the same care in the vineyard and cellar.
Food Pairing
This is sparkling wine with the structure to sit through a meal, not just start one. Pour it with a plate of salumi and Castelmagno, with vitello tonnato, with tajarin in butter and sage, or with a fritto misto of seafood. Its red-fruit edge and firm acidity also suit a mushroom tart or a roast chicken. The dry finish and steady bead cut richness and keep the table moving. A conversation-starting bottle for anyone who thinks they already know what Piedmont tastes like.
We ship wine to most states with a $100 minimum order for shipping. We don't ship spirits nor beer.
Weather shipping advisory: Orders placed during times of extreme heat or extreme cold will be held for no charge until more favorable weather returns.
Piedmont, framed by the Alps in northwestern Italy, is a land of rolling hills and carefully cultivated vineyards. The continental climate, with its cold winters and warm summers, creates prime conditions for the Nebbiolo grape, which dominates much of the region's red wine production. The Langhe area is home to Barolo and Barbaresco, structured red wines known for their complex aromas, firm tannins, and aging potential. While Nebbiolo is the dominant grape of Piedmont, the region also makes interesting white wines like those from Arneis and Timorasso. Alto Piemonte is a separate region in the north with its own distinctive expressions of Nebbiolo, alongside other red grape varietals.
