Structure

Bodyfull
Tanninlow
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Finishlong
Oaknew oak

Drinking window

Best 3 to 12 years from vintage.
vintage3 yrs12 yrs14 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.

In the glass

Full-bodiedLow tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: yellow apple, white peach, honey, almond, vanilla

Palate: yellow stone fruit, almond cream, lemon pith, saline finish

Joe Bastianich's flagship white blend (Chardonnay, Sauvignon, dry-vinified Picolit). The Picolit gives the unique wax-and-honey aromatic register. Vespa Bianco was the first wine Joe Bastianich and Lidia Bastianich released after acquiring the Cividale del Friuli estate.

What it pairs with

  • Risotto al tartufo bianco
    Almond cream and honey aromatics handle the white truffle's musky depth; full body holds the Carnaroli starch.
  • Roast guinea fowl
    Honey and almond cream aromatics pair with the bird's nutty fat; high acidity scrubs the chicken fat.
  • Lobster Thermidor
    Vanilla and almond cream pair with the gratin's bechamel; saline finish lifts the shellfish.

History

Vespa Bianco was the first wine released from the Bastianich estate after Joe Bastianich (Eataly co-founder) and his mother Lidia Bastianich (cookbook author and restaurateur) acquired the Cividale del Friuli property in the mid-1990s. The wine combines Friulian indigenous Picolit with international Chardonnay and Sauvignon.

  1. 1997: First Vespa Bianco vintage at the Bastianich estate

Facts

Producer
Bastianich · visiting guide
Grapes
Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Picolit
Classification
Venezia Giulia IGT
Oak
Fermented and aged in small French oak barriques (around 30 percent new) for around 12 months; 6 months in bottle before release
ABV
13.5%
Price
EUR 28 to 42 at retail
Drinking window
3-12 from vintage
First vintage
1997
Vegan
Yes (no animal-derived fining)

Frequently asked about Bastianich Vespa Bianco

What does Bastianich Vespa Bianco taste like?

Yellow apple, white peach, honey, almond and vanilla on the nose; yellow stone fruit, almond cream, lemon pith and a saline finish on the palate. Full-bodied with high acidity and a long finish from 12 months in barrique.

What grapes is Vespa Bianco?

Three-variety blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon and dry-vinified Picolit. The Picolit (only around 5 to 10 percent) gives the unique wax-and-honey aromatic register; the other grapes drive structure.

Who is Joe Bastianich?

Joe Bastianich is the Italian-American restaurateur and Eataly co-founder. He and his mother Lidia Bastianich (chef and cookbook author) acquired the Cividale del Friuli estate in the mid-1990s to make Friulian wine.

When should I drink Vespa Bianco?

Drink between 3 and 12 years from vintage. The wine cellars well; almond cream and honey aromatics deepen from year 5 onwards.

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