Cellatica DOC

The name Cellatica derives from 'Cella,' the Latin word for cellar, a fitting tribute to a zone that has been recognized for high-quality grape growing since the 1500s. The area's favorable morphology and elevated hillside sites made it a natural location for viticulture long before the DOC designation was established. Today only a few thousand cases are produced annually, making Cellatica one of the more obscure appellations in northern Italy.

• Name traces to the Latin word 'Cella,' meaning cellar
• Winemaking tradition documented in the area since the 1500s
• Only a few thousand cases produced per year, keeping the DOC rare and little-known

Cellatica sits in central Lombardy, tucked between the city of Brescia and the southern slopes of the Alps, with Lake Iseo nearby. The climate is temperate continental with Alpine influences, giving the vines warm summers tempered by cooler air descending from the mountains. Soils are calcareous, clayey, and rocky with a limestone base. Vineyards are planted on hillside sites at elevations up to 400 meters, with southern exposures maximizing sun exposure and promoting full ripening.

• Temperate continental climate with Alpine cooling influence
• Soils are calcareous, clayey, and rocky with limestone subsoil
• Hillside vineyards reach up to 400 meters (1,310 feet) elevation
• Southern exposures provide optimal ripening conditions

Cellatica is a blended red DOC with strict minimum requirements for four grape varieties. Barbera and Marzemino (also known as Berzemino) each contribute a minimum of 30%, forming the backbone of the blend. Schiava Gentile and the crossing Incrocio Terzi No. 1 must each account for at least 10%. A maximum of 10% other authorized red grapes may be included. This precise blending framework reflects the DOC's commitment to preserving the regional character of the wine.

• Barbera: minimum 30% of the blend
• Marzemino/Berzemino: minimum 30%
• Schiava Gentile: minimum 10%; Incrocio Terzi No. 1: minimum 10%
• Other authorized red varieties permitted up to a maximum of 10%

Cellatica produces light red wines with a ruby-red hue, offering aromas of red and dark fruit alongside floral and herbal notes. The style is described as fresh and frisky, making it an approachable, food-friendly wine rather than a bold or structured one. Two quality tiers exist: Rosso, with a minimum alcohol of 11.5%, and Superiore, which requires 12% minimum alcohol and a minimum of 11 months of aging before release.

• Ruby-red color with red and dark fruit aromas, floral and herbal nuances
• Fresh, lighter-bodied style suited to early drinking
• Rosso: minimum 11.5% alcohol; Superiore: minimum 12% alcohol
• Superiore requires 11 months minimum aging

Given the tiny scale of the appellation, the producer list is short. Cooperativa Cellatica Gussago is a cooperative operation rooted in the zone, while Colline della Stella, the project of producer Andrea Arici, represents a quality-focused estate voice for the DOC. The small number of producers mirrors the appellation's modest footprint and limited annual output.

• Cooperativa Cellatica Gussago: the established cooperative of the zone
• Colline della Stella (Andrea Arici): a quality-focused estate producer
• Limited producer base reflects the DOC's small five-hectare footprint