Ermes Pavese tends some of the highest altitude vineyards in all of Europe, 1,200 meters up in the Italian Alps, in the isolated province of Vallée d'Aoste in view of the peak of Mont Blanc.  Due to the elevation and bare rocky terrain, the vines remain free of phylloxera to this day, and the Prié Blanc vines that produce this wine still grow on their own native rootstocks. 

Though this is their flagship wine, Ermes Pavese produces only some 1,000 cases of this per year due to the naturally low yields in this difficult terrain. Everything is hand-picked, of course, and after a short maceration and direct press of whole clusters, fermentation is completed in stainless steel to preserve the minerality and aromatics. Some time on fine lees enhances the body, and some tanks (around 80%) go through spontaneous malolactic fermentation.   

A wine in a league of its own, possessing the purest of mineral flavors and racy, vivacious length. If you could squeeze juice from a glacier, this is it. 

Pairing: Crudo, fresh water fish, fennel, ramps, braised leeks

Grape: Prié Blanc

Soil: Sandy glacial moraines 

Farming Practices: Practicing Organic