Boffalora
The Estate
Boffalora is a young company in Valtellina, which has distinguished itself for a production of wines with great personality, capable of expressing the character of the territory very well.
The winery was founded in 2002 by Giuseppe Guglielmo, who decided to devote himself to viticulture when his wife inherited the family vineyards. The estate extends in the locality of Balzarro in Castione Andevenno, at an altitude of about 400 meters above sea level. It consists of several parcels with some old vineyards of particular value. In recent decades the property has been expanded with the planting of new vineyards in some areas previously occupied by woods and with the acquisition of new plots, which rise up to an altitude of 700 meters. It is a very tiring and expensive mountain viticulture, with operations in the vineyard and manual harvests on often steep slopes. Healthy and ripe grapes arrive in the cellar, which are de-stemmed and vinified in a simple way, trying to minimize oenological interventions. This leads to wines with an authentic taste, capable of recounting the stony and elegant character of a great mountain Nebbiolo in the glass.
Valtellina is one of the most suitable alpine areas for viticulture. Despite its latitude and position in the heart of the Alps, its particular orientation from east to west allows the northern side to enjoy excellent sunshine, which allows the grapes to ripen perfectly.
The cool, breezy climate and stony soils have for centuries proved to be an ideal habitat for a demanding variety such as Nebbiolo, which in this area is called Chiavennasca.The presence of very strong temperature changes between day and night, gives Nebbiolo intense aromas and a profile of refined expressive freshness.
The wine
The vineyards are located in the wine production area of Valtellina Superiore DOCG. Part of the vineyards are ancient and are planted with hundred-year-old Nebbiolo vines, preserved with special care and attention.
The rows are located in seven different
areas around Contrada Balzarro. Canovi vineyard is the oldest and is planted in “rittocchino” (the rows are perpendicular to the slopes): some strains date back to the ‘30s, others to the beginning of the 20th Century.
In 2008 the Wine Farm converted an area of about 5000 square meters - known as Boffalora, a forest for 30 years - into a vineyard, with rows planted in “girapoggio” (contour farming - parallel to the slopes). The last vineyard of 4000 steep square meters was purchased from an elderly person and planted with a new clone of Nebbiolo in the spring of 2013.
The other four vineyards are located within the Contrada and make up a total of about 8,000 square meters.