Giorgio Gianatti

Perched high up & steeply behind the città of Sondrio, capitale of the Valtellina, is found the comune di Montagna in Valtellina. The village is famous for its impressive, 120ha cru Grumello, which faces pure South on broad terraces of granite & morenic, stony soils. The Gianatti family farm a prime, 100 year old, 2ha parcel, vigneto Sassina, & have been doing so for almeno due hundred years. The vines are planted with Chiavennasca, plus 5% Rossola & Pignola (both relatives of Nebbiolo/Chiavennasca). Irrigation is only used in emergency.

Giorgio is the latest in a long line of Gianatti, following in the footsteps of his bisnonno Giorgio, nonno Giuseppe, & papa Silvio, joining the family farm in 1978. Indeed it was Giorgio (nato ’62) who initiated the first bottlings in 1983. Alongside him are his wife Cristina, & figlia Cecilia.

Giorgio makes classic Valtellina Superiore Grumello vigneto Sassina (labeled as such since 2017) – broad & emphatic, with fine tannins – plus a Rosso di Valtellina too. The wines are traditionally made, using stainless-steel & botte grande ageing, for circa 18 mths in the case of the Valtellina Superiore. Despite completing a new bottle store in the centre of the village, Giorgio does not release each vintage, but only the ones he likes! He prefers to offer older vintages to the market; ones that have benefited from time in bottle.

Giorgio is a proud member of FIVI (Federazione ItalianaVignaoli Indipendenti).