Paolo Ferri

In the province of Novara, producer Paolo Ferri makes high-quality Metodo Classico sparkling wines, elaborated with inspiration from the great Blanc de Noirs of Champagne but with the heart firmly anchored in Alto Piemonte. These bubbles, labelled 'Preja', are in fact largely made from Vespolina, an ancient traditional variety of the Novara Hills whose etymology is to be found in the fact that wasps are particularly fond of ripe grapes. Paolo Ferri, an entrepreneur in the land reclamation sector, embarked on his own adventure in the world of wine in 2012, choosing to valorise his homeland, Suno, a municipality located at the foot of the Alps, some twenty kilometres east of Ghemme. In this project he is supported by the advice of oenologist and agronomist friends, who have helped him set up a network of trusted winegrowers from whom he buys the grapes for his sparkling wines.

The grape varieties Paolo Ferri works with for the production of his Metodo Classico are Vespolina, Pinot Nero and Nebbiolo, varieties cultivated mainly on moraine and alluvial soils. The selection of the grapes is an essential moment for the winemaker, who chooses only healthy, high quality clusters, prerequisites for the production of great sparkling wine bases. In the cellar, fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, so that the acidity and aromas of the wine are preserved intact. Once ready, the sparkling wine base is then bottled with the addition of the draught syrup for refermentation in glass according to the Metodo Classico, associated with long ageing on the lees, usually between 24 and 40 months. The final dosages are then kept low, respecting the expressive purity and identity of each sparkling wine.

Paolo Ferri's Metodo Classico wines, produced in a total of less than 10,000 examples, stand out for their freshness and aromatic fragrance, acting as innovative interpretations of the Novara wine-growing area.