As I sit here and write about our Travaglini Gattinara wine tasting experience, I couldn’t help but open and pour myself and Collin a glass of one of the bottles we bought from our first visit. The Tre Vigne, translated…3 vineyards, was one that we loved. It brings me back to the light but bold flavor which is expressed fruitfully on the nose to its finish.
One of the first wineries we were able to visit as Italy was reopening, was the Travaglini Gattinara Winery. We invited a group of friends to join us for the Travaglini experience. There, we toured the winery grounds and cellar, learning about their wine process, famous bottles, and the generations of Travaglini.
Wine Tasting
We had the pleasure of trying 6 – 8 different wines from Travaglini, including its Reserved wines, Nebbiolo, and Nebole champagne. Each pour was fairly normal in tastings’ size, slightly less than a glass of wine.
We did receive a wine bucket, in which you pour the extra wine you didn’t plan on finishing, into the bucket. Although, none of us used that bucket, lol.
During our tasting, we also had a small water cup which was made from old Travaglini wine bottles. You can see the cup in the first photo of the slideshow. I thought this was a creative way to recycle and reuse the bottles, and they make great water cups for your home (they are also available for purchase).
We were also given an info pamphlet on the wines we were trying with information on each wines’ description, winemaking process, food matches, serving temperature suggestions, and shelf life.
Food
Although we were warned before, the food was less than exciting. We received only bite sized tasting of their cheeses and meats. Though this may be normal for ‘higher end’ wineries, it was unfortunate to not have more to the food pairing compared to other wineries we have been to.
If you plan to visit Travaglini, I seriously recommend eating a meal before you go! You will be tasting a lot of wine and the little food they give you is not enough on an empty stomach.
Winery/Vineyard
Located in the heart of Gattinara, the winery has been passed down as the Travaglini family business since the 1920s. The winery has become known as an esteemed producer of the famous Nebbiolo grape within the Piedmont region.
We opted out of touring the vineyard because it was February and still cold. Instead, we toured the inside of the winery, seeing where the wine is fermented and aged. It was as beautiful and grand as you could expect it to be.
It wasn’t until 1958 that the special Travaglini shaped bottle was born. The shape was designed to naturally catch the sediment during pouring, without the need for a decanter. This bottle, exclusive to Travaglini, has become a renowned figure for tables across the world.
Service
The Travaglini family members were all working the day we came. They were very nice and patient, happy to answer any questions we had about their family business. Alessia, the oldest of the two daughters, toured our group and facilitated our wine tasting. She was very sweet and informative on where to buy Travaglini within Italy and the United States.
Upon checkout, each of us bought a case of wine…some more than others. Collin and I received two of Travaglini’s wooden crates to store our nice wines in for free, since we bought so much product from them. It looks great in our home and we were really happy to receive those for our efforts.
Ambiance
Overall, the Travaglini experience was an enjoyable time with our friends. We learned about one of the most prestige Nebbiolo winemakers in Italy and had a memorable time tasting their different Nebbiolo varieties.
In all, I would encourage anyone who enjoys tasting a large variety of wines and the “higher end” winery experience to book a tasting and tour at Travaglini! It is a perfect way to spend your day with friends and family.
