Vintages New Release Collection – November 22, 2025

At LCBO, we’re focused on building a more sustainable future through our Spirit of Sustainability initiative, which celebrates trade partners who work to promote diversity and inclusion, community investment and sound environmental practices. Learn more at LCBO.com/sustainability .

FONTANAFREDDA GAVI DI GAVI 2024 DOCG, Piedmont, Italy, sustainable

A focused, sleek, steely wine, with lime, peach, green apple, delicate tropical tones, white pepper, vanilla and mineral. An elegant, delightful sipper with a broad appeal, it will be a welcome addition to your holiday entertainment. Fresh and buoyant, it has a zesty acidity that makes it a good palate-cleanser between bites no matter what you’re serving. Light & Crisp 366948 (XD) 750 ml $23.95 1

Founded by the first king of Italy in 1858 and the world’s largest private producer of Barolo, Fontanafredda is a big player in Italian wine. They’ve also gone big on sustainability, with Equalitas sustainable certification, environmentally conscious packaging, and over 120 acres of certified-organic crops. They began their organic journey back in 2015, and in 2018, became the largest Piedmont producer to be certified. “It was not just an achievement we wanted for our own vineyards,” says Fabio Bosio, export manager at Fontanafredda, “but was a wider project which involved part of the network of growers who are linked with us.” Most of these 400+ growers have been working with Fontanafredda for generations. “Our aim was to change the agricultural model in the region.” Fontanafredda have provided a great deal of economic and technical support to their growers over this process, which is ongoing. Their motivation, besides providing a cleaner, healthier product for consumers, is “to protect the biodiversity of our terroir,” says Bosio. “Because for us, the terroir is one of the most important ingredients in our wines.” As for the future, “we have another challenge now, which is climate change.” Working with the University of Turin, Fontanafredda is experimenting with strategies to reduce the impact of extreme weather on their vines. These include the Bosco Vigna project, which translates to Forest Vineyard. “When I was a child, I remember that it was quite common to have different kinds of trees in the middle of the vineyard,” says Bosio. “By integrating forest, hedges, and wildflower areas within and around the vineyards, we can promote natural habitats for flora and fauna, contributing to soil health, pollination, and a general ecological balance.” Trees and shrubs also act as natural windbreaks, reduce erosion, improve water retention, and create shade to cool down vines. “We have planted more than 3,000 trees within our estate and are promoting this project to the farmers.” Fontanafredda are well aware of what they have, and what they must protect. Says Bosio, “the exclusivity, the uniqueness of our wines comes from the terroir. Protecting the biodiversity of the soils and the microclimate of this territory is a guarantee for us to continue to produce unique, outstanding wines.”

FONTANAFREDDA SERRALUNGA D’ALBA BAROLO 2021 DOCG, Piedmont, Italy, sustainable, vegan

Fontanafredda’s flagship Barolo ... is among the denomination’s best values in 2021. It achieves that alluring and complex mix of freshness and maturity. Savoury nuances of moss and mushroom lace through dried strawberry and spiced plum. Ripe tannins are still tight and properly assertive, confidently bracing the supple, vibrant fruit. It lingers with rasp- berry tea and tobacco. Essential for anyone building a cellar on a budget. Drinking window: 2025- 2035. Score: 92 (Michaela Morris, decanter.com, March 28, 2025) Full-bodied & Firm 943290 (XD) 750 ml $49.95 2

VINTAGES 27