Vermentino, Riviera Ligure di Ponente,

Founded in 1870 by Tommaso Rondinelli, Terre Bianche is a family estate perched high above the small town of Dolceacqua in Liguria, the stunning hillsides of the Italian Riviera. Today production is managed by Filippo Rondinelli, who took over from his father Claudio in the late nineties. Their 10ha are spread over a wide variety of soils including blue marl and white and red clay. The vineyards are sheer, rocky and are grown at altitude. Extreme viticulture which requires passion, dedication and attention to detail, qualities the Rondinelli family have in abundance. The focus is on indigenous varieties, the aromatic and charming red Rossese di Dolceacqua, the indigenous white Pigato and also its more widely-known cousin, Vermentino. The wines are all fermented and aged in steel tank, bar the single vineyard wines which are aged in barrels with the aim being to minimize as much as possible the influence of oak on the taste of the wine. Of mountain and sea, these are unique, tangy wines of great character. Up there with some of the most authentic, lively and refined wines in Italy.