The fine wines of the Langhe > Freisa wine

The first historical traces of Freisa vine date back to XVIII century. Perhaps there was not a wine which made people discuss like Freisa wine did; in fact it divided the good judges into estimators and denigrators. This discord is justified by the variety of characteristics this wine can take, according to the ground and the sun exposition this vine is subjected to. In fact, it is very much resistant to sudden changes of climate and diseases; it adapts itself to different grounds and sun exposition, and it guarantees a secure harvesting, sometimes to the detriment of fineness, under any condition. Nowadays, its cultivation is very much extended, and its production has been diversified into two different typology: dry and sparkling Freisa wine, which is being loved more and more by tasters. Asti Freisa wine has been always evaluated by the best judges, beginning with the King of Italy Vittorio Emanuele II, who always wanted on his table. The area of production is the hilly territory of the province of Asti. Hilly attitude vineyards, whose ground is clayey-calcareous and clayey-sandy, are the only ones suitable for its production; there are 371 Freisa wine producers and 381,07 hectares of vineyards, which lead to a maximum annual production of 21.340 hl, and an average one of 6.393 hl; the only vine allowed for its production is the Freisa type; its minimum alcoholic content is 11%; its color is grenade red or cherry-like, slightly tending to orange for the ageing; its smell is delicate, characteristic, and it recalls the rose and raspberry; its taste is dry, sweet, fresh, and delicately soft in the dry type, aged for a year; an alcoholic content of 11,5% and a one year ageing qualify it as “Superior”; ageing is not considered but it can be carried out also for the “sparkling” and “spumante” type; ideal matchings for the dry type are soups, cooked salami; the sweet one is a dessert wine.