The Piedmont Guy Ercole Pet Nat NV

Ercole, whose English translation is Hercules, is only made possible by a generations-old cooperative of local growers in the Monferrato area. Every fall, these men and women cultivate pristine and sustainably farmed fruit, allowing us to make authentic wines that are transmitters of time and place. Small, independent cooperative wineries like this are not only the lifeblood of thousands of small growers across Italy but also repositories safeguarding the native grape varieties and winemaking traditions of their respective regions.

The cooperative behind Ercole works predominantly with old vines ranging from 30 to 50 years old. All participating growers adhere to the European Union rule for sustainable farming known as lotta integrata, or lutte raisonnée, though many are now certified organic. None of these growers use systemic treatments or chemicals, employing only minimal copper and sulfur. Both vinification and bottling are certified vegan.

The place, Monferrato, ranks among the most historic grape-growing areas of Piedmont and is the confirmed birthplace of the Barbera grape. For these reasons, we work primarily with Monferrato’s indigenous grape varieties. The fruit from this increasingly popular area gives us Ercole, a family of wines offering remarkable value.

Pét-Nat is an ancient method in which the wine is bottled before primary fermentation has concluded. As the yeast in the bottle converts the sugar in grape juice into alcohol, bubbles develop naturally while fermentation finishes in bottle. The result is at once wildly alive, uniquely approachable, and delightfully refreshing. This raw, unfiltered sparkling wine boasts electric strawberry and red raspberry along with a hint of fresh clove. Fun fact: Pét-Nat, short for "pétillant naturel" and known throughout Italy as metodo ancestrale, is almost certainly how the original sparkling wine was made centuries ago. 

Varieties: Chardonnay (60%) & Pinot Noir (40%) 

Soil: limestone-marl                                                                                                              Harvest: late August                                                                                                    Atmospheres: 2.5                                                                                                                Alcohol: 12.5%

Producer: The Piedmont Guy

Country: Italy

Region: Piedmont

Varietal: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir.

Appellation: Monferrato

Vintage: NV

Size: 750ml