What’s Pressoir drinking *Convivio del Vino Edition
Raj Vaidya
May 6, 2025
Last week we officially launched our new Italian wine festival, Convivio del Vino. And it was a terrific time indeed, with some 35 producers from all around Italy descending on NYC with their infectious enthusiasm, their delicious wines and their oh-so charming accents!
I discovered quite a few gems amongst the visiting producers which I had not known before, and was especially impressed and excited by the fresh, mineral white wines that I usually look to France for when quenching my summer thirst. So I thought I could highlight a few that really impressed me which I plan on drinking often this summer…
You should look for a bottle and enjoy them this summer too. Let me know if you do and how you enjoyed the suggestions. Cin Cin!
Borgo di Tiglio Studio di Bianco 2022
This was a discover from the Collio in Friuli. A medium bodied but very zippy blend of Sauvignon, Riesling and Tocai, this fairly late harvested wine is co-fermented and produces a mellowed version of the floral tendencies of Tocai and Sauvignon. Excellent depth and mineral tones, super long finish and great with grilled seafood, I’m certain.
Nicola Gatta Blanc de Blancs Nature
Nicola Gatta makes wine in the Franciacorta area of Lombardy, yet he does not adhere to the appellation of Franciacorta, preferring to make his wines from biodynamically farmed vineyards on limestone soils with no sulphur additions and via spontaneous fermentation for the base wines. The limestone soils really come through via the Chardonnay grape, and despite being a warmer region than Champagne I found these to have tremendous grip and structure, and a delightfully textured mousse.
Schirru Bianco ’Bianku’ 2022
Marco Schirru was a revelation to me, as they represent the first wines I’ve tried from Sardinia that have the presence and pedigree of noble and great wines, as opposed to the simpler quaffers I have been exposed to previously. A blend of Vermentino and a local variety called Nuragus, vinified with some skin maceration and in stainless steel tanks, this is a savory yet citrus tinged delight. Grown on pure schist soils and pretty high up at an average of 400 meters above sea level, the vines are very old, some dating back as much as 70 years.
Penna-Currado Timorasso Colli Tortonesi ‘Derthona’ 2023
Elena Penna and Luca Currado are some of my favorite people in the world, the delightful couple who for years were the proprietors and producers of the wines of Vietti. Today, they’ve begun their new project making Barolo, Dolcetto and Langhe Nebbiolo under this new label. They also produce one amazing white, from the Timorasso grape grown in the South-Eastern edge of the region close to Alessandria. A mix of fossilized clay and marl give this wine a bite, almost a toothsome mouthfeel, while remaining saline and refreshing on the palate.
