160 years old and still going strong: that’s the age of the first sparkling wine from Oltrepò Pavese, produced by Conte Vistarino. Its story is quite unique. The sparkling adventure of the Italian Classic Method began just after Italy and its people were created, with Piedmontese Carlo Gancia creating a 100% Italian-made sparkling wine in 1865. At the same time, at the Rocca de’ Giorgi estate, Count Augusto Giorgi di Vistarino, the man who brought Burgundy’s Pinot Noir to Pavia and its surroundings, christened the first Brut. The Italy of sparkling wines has awakened and is gradually taking shape. So much so that today we celebrate the 160th anniversary of an intuition that gave rise to the great sparkling wine tradition of the Oltrepò Pavese, which was celebrated on September 21st and 22nd by the winery now led by Ottavia Vistarino during the event “Oltrepò: Land of Pinot Noir”.
160 Years of Sparkling Wine in Oltrepò Pavese: Conte Vistarino’s New Project Gets Underway in Rocca de’ Giorgi
This year marks the 160th anniversary of the creation of the first Oltrepò Pavese sparkling wines, created in Rocca de’ Giorgi in 1865.
Count Augusto Giorgi di Vistarino began this story, first planting Pinot Noir on his estate in 1860 using cuttings from France, and then producing sparkling wine with his friend Carlo Gancia in 1865.
As attested by historical documents and correspondence, since its inception, the company, now led by Ottavia Vistarino, has always promoted the region’s winemaking vocation and is the signature of its most enduring excellences.
A journey that continues: the latest harvest, thanks to careful parcel selection, delivered Pinot Noir and Chardonnay base wines of excellent quality, in what promises to be one of the best vintages of the decade.
“This achievement is even more significant considering that since 2024, we have been developing a project dedicated exclusively to sparkling wines, following the philosophy of excellence that inspired my Cru project, which began over twenty years ago,” explains Ottavia Vistarino.
After recent investments in the vineyard and the completion of cellar work, Conte Vistarino’s goal is now to select the most suitable rows to compose the Cuvée and maximize its identity and finesse.
In the meantime, on September 21st and 22nd the company took center stage at the “Oltrepò: Land of Pinot Noir” event with its 1865, Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico Pinot Nero DOCG Extra Brut vintage 2017, a label symbolic of 160 years of commitment to an area that is increasingly aiming to emerge as a wine tourism destination just a few kilometers from Milan and beyond.
