Paolo Scavino Langhe Bianco "Sorriso" '24

One of the hidden gems from Paolo Scavino!

“Sorriso” began simply as the Scavino family’s house wine, something refreshing to drink during the warm summer months. Outside of Nascetta from the village of Novello and Timorasso from the Colli Tortonesi, Piedmont has little tradition of producing white wines in the areas best known for Nebbiolo. In 1997, Enrico Scavino planted Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier in two vineyards: the west-facing Altenasso cru in Castiglione Falletto and the east-facing Bricco Manescotto vineyard in La Morra. After a few vintages, the family realized they had created something worth sharing, and Sorriso was eventually released commercially.

The 2024 is made entirely from estate-grown fruit and is a blend of 40% Chardonnay, 40% Sauvignon Blanc, and 20% Viognier. Each variety is fermented separately in stainless steel, with malolactic fermentation blocked to preserve the wine’s natural freshness and acidity. After blending, the wine remains in stainless steel for six months before bottling.

The name Sorriso means “smile” in Italian, which is an appropriate description for this cheerful and immediately appealing white. The 2024 is bright and aromatic, with notes of citrus zest, green melon, white flowers, sage, and a touch of stone fruit from the Viognier. The palate is fresh and mineral, with good texture, lively acidity, and a clean, dry finish.

This is an incredibly versatile food wine. Pair it with the classic Piedmontese dish vitello tonnato, fresh seafood, or make it a major winner for your next night of Thai takeout.