Domino Spumante Brut Rosé 2024

The label of Domino features a cartoon by Pulitzer Prize winner Rube Goldberg, illustrating a convoluted domino effect that ends with a bottle being popped. The image playfully reflects the complexity, creativity, and intricate winemaking behind each of their wines. But the "domino effect" has another layer of meaning: once you open a bottle, it’s hard not to open another. As for how they got permission to use the cartoon... Giuseppe met the artist’s granddaughter and ended up knocking on her door in New York. She agreed, on one condition: they send her ten boxes of Domino each year! Winemaking Detail: Domino is made using the Martinotti (or Charmat) method, where fermentation takes place in a pressurised tank. Uniquely, Vicara starts the sparkling process from the must, allowing a single, controlled fermentation. A slightly modern take on the ancestral method.

Domino is made using the Martinotti (or Charmat) method, where fermentation takes place in a pressurised tank. Uniquely, Vicara starts the sparkling process from the must, allowing a single, controlled fermentation. A slightly modern take on the ancestral method. 

Delicately pink in colour, with a hint of orange, this rosé opens with a graceful, floral nose and sharp red fruit; wild strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants (a touch underripe), with a gentle thread of iodine. On the palate, it’s dry, fresh and quietly serious, with soft residual creamy texture and a subtle note of liquorice adding depth. Grignolino’s signature citrus bite lingers on the finish. Elegant, energetic.

Crudo, Pizza, Vitello Tonnato

Vicara was founded in 1992 by three families. Viscontis (land-owners), Cassinis (masters of communication) and Ravizzas (who manage the vineyards). In the hills of Rosignano, a village near Casale Monferrato, Vicara is renowned for its Barbera, Freisa, and Grignolino. The grapes are sourced from three plots across 33 hectares - Vadmon, Crosia, and Bricco Uccelletta - each with their own unique terroir and soils that span 12 different geological eras dating back over 30 million years - a true rarity in Piemonte. It is a winery that honours tradition while constantly looking towards modernity. A fusion of respect for ancient methods and bold forays into innovation. Now in its second generation since 2022, a new phase has begun with Giuseppe and Emanuele Visconti taking the helm and bringing new ideas to the wines. Their mission is to enhance their territory by producing both everyday classics and prestigious labels, cultivating respect for ancient agricultural practices and highlighting the native grapes of the region. Careful soil management, spontaneous ground cover, and natural pest defense testify to Vicara's commitment to sustainability, reducing the need for external interventions.