Pelaverga piccolo or Pelaverga di Verduno

Just to make clear we are discussing today the Pelavera Piccolo which is a native, local grape of Verduno and not the Pelaverga Grosso which is a DOC Colline Tortinesei and Colline Saluzzesi.

Pelaverga Di Verduno is produced only in and around the town of Verduno, situated at little distance of La Morra and Barolo. It was said that this grape,  Pelaverga Piccolo or Pelaverga di Verduno was brought from the area of Saluzzo by a friar, named Sebastiano Valfré in 18^th century.

Verduno Pelaverga makes an excellent wine,  and credit goes to the local producers who believed enough in the variety to attempt monovarietal bottlings rather than blends with Barbera or Nebbiolo,  as they used to do. 

The only three hectares planted in 18^th century increased to 12 hectares nowadays. The name Pelaverga is a combinatie of Pela and Verga meaning “to peel” and “branch”.  So Pelaverga is referring to and old vine training technique (branch-peeler).

Colour of the Pelaverga is bright red, with small redberry and herbal aromas and flavors. 

A Pelaverga Piccolo wine is not unlike a good Schiava, and like that variety,  it is characterized by a lack of strong tannins. This variety is remarkably versatile.  The Pelaverga of Verduno we are presenting is from winegrower Cadia, an excellent reference for this type of wine but also for Barolo Monvigliero wine and Langhe Arneis.

We tasted this Pelaverga with a plate of cheese,  with hazelnuts and three different salsi to match the different cheeses on our dish.