Castello di Luzzano, Romeo Gutturnio Riserva, 2017

Gutturnio takes its name from a round Roman jug once used for serving wine in this part of Emilia-Romagna—a reminder that these hills have been making wine for millennia. Castello di Luzzano sits at 270 meters elevation on the border between Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy, owned by the Fugazza family for nearly a century. Romeo is named for a skilled vintner and gardener who worked these vineyards generations ago. The blend pairs Barbera's bright acidity (60%) with Bonarda's juicy fruit (40%), the region's classic combination. Grapes are hand-harvested and fermented separately before blending. The result is fruit-forward with a slightly funky edge—honest wine from an ancient tradition. The Colli Piacentini's marl, clay, and sandstone soils contribute structure without heaviness.