Le Monde Sparkling Ribolla Gialla Friuli Grave NV

What a keen surprise it is when an importer partner arrives to taste through a new set of wines, and they present a style of wine we’ve never tried before.  In all honesty, many of these experiences happen with our Italian importers due to the sheer volume of indigenous varietals that infrequently make it to the United States.  This scrumptious surprise of Le Monde’s sparkling Ribolla Gialla wowed our team with its zippy acidity, velvety effervescence, and well-rounded palate.  For a region where Prosecco dominates, Le Monde has presented an expert alternative that frankly reminds us of our favorite grower Champagnes, but without the hefty price tag.

Concerning Italian winery standards, Le Monde is a relative newcomer, established in 1970 by the Pistoni family, who later sold to the current owners, Alex Maccan & Marta Furlan.   The vineyards far predate the present-day stewards, with documents showing the presence of the historic building and vineyards as far back as 997.  In 2008, Alex made the giant leap to leave his career in industrial technology and take over this 50-hectare (125-acre) property with no winemaking experience.  Driven by a passion for wine and the prospect of elevating the label to new heights, Alex, age 31, began transitioning the vineyards to organic and biodynamic practices while learning to make wine with the sage advice of consulting winemaker Franco Bernabei.

Le Monde rests between two rivers, the Livenza and Meduna, on topsoil rich with clay and chalk in the D.O.C. of Friuli Grave in northeastern Italy.  It’s a fantastic white wine region due to the cooler temperatures that drive up the acidity in the grapes.  Ribolla Gialla is an ancient varietal for this region and one of the most widely planted.  While often crafted to 100% varietal still wines, smaller wineries occasionally produce sparkling wine from this aromatic, high-acid white grape.  And for that, we are grateful.

The grapes underwent secondary fermentation using the Charmat sparkling method, traditionally used throughout the region.  For the Charmat method, rather than fermenting in the bottle, the wine completes the second fermentation in a large format pressurized tank.  Alex allowed the wine to remain on the lees for an additional 90 days to impart a creamier texture not often associated with this technique.  The nose is intensely aromatic with floral nuances and hints of white peaches, beeswax, and grass.  The evenly balanced palate hits high tones of citrus and minerality backed by a rich texture and flavors of apple pie a la mode and tangerine marmalade.  We wholeheartedly believe that popping a bottle of bubbles should not be solely reserved for just celebrations, and Le Monde’s sparkling Ribolla Gialla makes it possible to pop one every weekday if you like.