Sella

Sella – Lessona & Bramaterra

Sella is the example of an everlasting relation between a family and a wine appellation: Lessona Doc is one of north Piedmont’s major Nebbiolo-based appellations, along with Gattinara and Ghemme, and it is literally the product of two centuries of viticultural efforts operated by the Sella family.

Nowadays, Sella is still the one and only producer of Lessona Doc, a privileged situation of ‘monopole’ comparable to Romanee-Conti, Sassicaia or Coulee de Serrant.The Sella family has been tending vines and owning land in Lessona since the early XVII century, although mention of the ‘spicy Nebbiolo from Lessona’ is found in local chronicles as early as the XII century.

Among the various members of the Sella family who have gained reputation over the decades for their far-sighted viticultural investments and achievements, Quintino Sella easily produced the greatest legacy. Born in the first half of XIX century, a graduate in Law, Engineering and Geology, valiant alpinist and erudite archaeologist, Quintino played a major role in the political life of the young Reign of Italy (1861): he held the minister of Treasury (1864-1873) and commanded the military attack against the Vatican State in 1870 to free Rome and complete the political reunification of Italy.

Wine-wise, Quintino carried out a detailed investigation of the geological composition of the Lessona terroir, and propagated the planting of Nebbiolo into the neighbouring [and then-unexploited] village of Bramaterra, thus creating the eponymous appellation Bramaterra Doc.Thanks to Quintino Sella and his geological mapping of Lessona and Bramaterra Doc, modern-day connoisseurs recognize the eponymous appellations as premium Nebbiolo terroir, distinct and antithetic to Barolo and Barbaresco. Higher day/night temperature variations and different soils make Lessona and Bramaterra Doc stand out as a fascinatingly extreme rendition of Nebbiolo varietal wine, as well as a most natural and distinctive alternative to Barolo and Barbaresco.

Sella Bramaterra Doc and Lessona Doc are made from old-vine Nebbiolo grapes grown on loose, sandy, quartzous-schistous soils and offer a lighter, gentler expression of Nebbiolo devoid of the excesses of alcohol and tannin that are common to Barolo and Barbaresco grown on limestone-based soils in the warmer climate of the Langhe. Sella Bramaterra Doc and Lessona Doc offer medium body, light alcohol, gentle tannins and exotic perfumes of wild strawberries, candied agrumes, ginger spice, quinine, officinal herbs, rhubarb and rust.

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