In the glass
Aroma: honey, almond, dried apricot, saffron
Palate: aged honeyed fruit, intense saline minerality, preserved citrus, umami
Cantina Terlano's library-release Pinot Bianco: late-disgorged bottlings from vintages typically 15 to 40 years old, released annually in small allocations. The cellar's proof of Pinot Bianco's ageing potential; demonstrating Pinot Bianco's 30-year-plus ageing potential.
What it pairs with
-
Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano with truffle honey
The cheese's umami and the honey echo Rarita's mature register; the wine's salinity slices the richness. -
Roast guinea fowl with mushroom sauce
Mature white wine pairs naturally with white game; the mushroom's earth echoes the wine's preserved-citrus complexity. -
Salt cod with brandade
Mediterranean preserved fish meets the wine's saline depth and lees-driven texture.
History
Cantina Terlano's Rarita programme began with the realisation that Pinot Bianco fermented and aged on lees could survive decades in the cellar. The cellar bottles vintage-by-vintage selections from oldest tanks, late-disgorges, and releases them in tiny allocations under the Rarita label after typically 10 to 40 years. The 1979 vintage was among the first proof bottles.
- 1979 — First vintages destined for the Rarita library programme
- 2015 — Terlano formalises annual Rarita release schedule with structured allocations
Facts
- Producer
- Cantina Terlano
- Grapes
- Pinot Bianco (100%)
- Classification
- DOC Alto Adige Terlano Pinot Bianco
- Oak
- Twelve months in large oak barrels then decades of ageing on the lees in steel and finally bottle ageing; library-release programme
- ABV
- 13.0%
- Price
- EUR 200 to 350 at release
- Drinking window
- 0 to 30 from release
- First vintage
- 1979
Frequently asked about Rarita Pinot Bianco
What does Rarita Pinot Bianco taste like?
Honey, almond, dried apricot and saffron on the nose; aged honeyed fruit, intense saline minerality, preserved citrus and umami on the palate. Full-bodied with high acidity and a near-infinite finish.
What is the Rarita library programme?
Cantina Terlano holds back selections of Pinot Bianco for decades, late-disgorging and releasing them in small allocations after 10-40 years of cellar ageing. Each annual release is from a different historical vintage.
How rare is Rarita?
Allocations are tiny (under 1000 bottles per vintage in many years) and distributed through the cellar mailing list and selected retailers. Older vintages (1980s, 1990s) command secondary-market premiums.
When should I drink Rarita?
Drinking-ready on release; the wine has already aged 10-40 years in cellar. Will hold another 10-15 years post-release. Serve at 12-14C in a wide tulip glass.