21 Jan Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Josetta Saffirio Alta Langa 2021 DOCG Brut Metodo Classico

When my friend served a savory mushroom tart at dinner a few weeks ago, I enjoyed it so much that I asked for the recipe. I finally tried making it at home, and to my delight, it worked. That small success felt worth celebrating, so I opened a bottle of sparkling wine. As it turned out, the Josetta Saffirio Alta Langa 2021 Brut Metodo Classico wasn’t just celebratory; it was also a perfect match for the dish, and that is why it is the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

About Josetta Saffirio

Josetta Saffirio is based in Castelletto, a small village within Monforte d’Alba, where the Saffirio family has been growing grapes and making wine since the early 1800s. The modern story of the estate took shape with Ernesto Saffirio, born in 1910, who later passed the family legacy to his daughter, Josetta. In 1975, at just 23 years old, Josetta transformed the family farm into a respected winery known for producing fine wines rooted in the Langhe. When she chose to retire in 1999, the torch passed once again, this time to her daughter, Sara Vezza, who was only 19 years old at the time. With the support of her parents, Sara continued the family tradition while expanding the estate’s vision and presence beyond Italy.

Under Sara’s leadership, the winery embraced organic farming in 2004 and has continued to grow thoughtfully, balancing respect for heritage with a forward-looking approach. Today, Josetta Saffirio’s wines reflect generations of continuity and careful stewardship of the land.

Tasting Notes

The Italian counterpart to Champagne, Alta Langa DOCG represents Piemonte’s highest expression of traditional method sparkling wine made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown on the cool, elevated hillsides of the region. The 2021 Brut Metodo Classico undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle and spends a minimum of 30 months aging on the lees. On the nose, the wine is fresh and elegant offering bright citrus, stone fruit, red apple, and bread crust notes. On the palate, the wine has a silky texture, lively acidity, and a creamy, complex finish.

Food Pairing

The mushroom and Gruyère tart I made at home was the perfect match for this Alta Langa sparkling wine. The wine’s acidity cut through the richness of the cheese and buttery filo, while its fresh citrus and creamy texture amplified the umami of the mushrooms. Its balance of freshness and depth also makes it an excellent partner for other savory dishes such as roasted chicken, creamy risottos, cheese plates, Piemonte’s specialty vitello tonnato, and more.