Luca Trombotto is one of the winegrowers who is continuing to keep alive the wine tradition of the Pinerolo and the foothills at the mouths of the Pellice, Chisone and Germanasca valleys. Here the old vineyards grow many grape varieties and are often cultivated in “heroic” conditions on the steepest of terrains. The used to be known as the “vineyards of the Barbet”, the nickname for Waldensian protestants, whose menfolk wore beards (barba in Italian) and who have inhabited the area for centuries. In the countryside round Pomaretto grow the native grape varieties such as avanà, averengo, becuet and chatus – some up to altitudes of 800 metres – which are blended to make Ramìe, a wine that symbolises the area. As does Doux d’Henry, produced with grapes from the lovely Pilun d’la Crus (Shrine of the Cross) vineyard above Bricherasio. One of the cellar’s most interesting white wine labels is Le Masche, produced with malvasia moscata (or malvasia bianca) grapes harvested when they are overripe and macerated on the skins. The resulting wine has beautifully concentrated colour (bright straw yellow with golden highlights) and hints characteristic of the grape. To be dunk with a selection of the mature cheeses of the nearby Val Pellice.
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