THE ALBERESE
If Galestro provides the perfume, Alberese provides the architecture. These are hard, white, compact limestone stones rich in calcium carbonate. This calcareous rock forces the vine to retain high levels of tartaric acid even as sugar levels rise. It is why Gigiò, despite its rich body and vanilla-oak sweetness, never feels “fat.” Alberese imparts a distinct salinity— a sensation that makes the wine vibrate with energy long after you have swallowed. Because the surface is a carpet of broken stone, water cannot pool; it flushes instantly through the cracks, forcing the root systems to dig meters deep into the bedrock to find sustenance. The vine enters a state of controlled stress. It stops growing leaves and focuses on the cluster. The berries remain small, with a high skin-to-juice ratio.