A masterclass in Californian craft with an Italian soul, delivering tart red cherry, crushed rose, and savoury earth framed by fine, gravelly tannins.

Pours a bright, translucent ruby with classic brick-garnet glints at the rim. The nose opens with pure, lifted aromas of sour red cherry, fresh pomegranate, and wild strawberry, accented by dried rose petals, subtle tobacco leaf, and an earthy dash of crushed flint and charcoal.

On the palate, it hits the tongue with real purpose and drive. Tart cranberries and redcurrant fruit are balanced by crisp, mouth-watering acidity, giving way to deeper notes of blood orange zest, tea leaf, and dried herbs. Nebbiolo is famous for its commanding tannins, but here an extended, gentle maceration keeps them fine-grained, chalky, and integrated rather than harsh. The finish is bone-dry, persistent, and satisfyingly savoury, leaving lingering hints of red liquorice and stony minerality.

Food Pairings:

Nebbiolo is built from the ground up for food. Its vibrant acidity and savoury tannin cut right through rich, hearty fare. Pair it with slow-braised ox cheek, a proper beef shin stew, or roast duck breast. If you are leaning vegetarian or looking for an Italian classic, a rich wild mushroom and truffle risotto is unbeatable. For the cheeseboard, it sits comfortably alongside a mature Isle of Mull cheddar or an aged sheep’s milk cheese.

About the Producer

Giornata is the passion project of husband-and-wife team Brian and Stephanie Terrizzi, based out of Tin City in Paso Robles. Long before Italian varieties found broader curiosity on the Central Coast, the couple set out on a clear, single-minded mission: craft authentic, site-expressive California wines inspired entirely by Italy’s noble native grapes. Brian brings cellar experience gained while working harvests in Tuscany and Piemonte, while Stephanie is an accomplished viticulturist who manages their vineyard plots with meticulous, organic care.

Rather than chasing heavy extraction or excessive new oak, Giornata champions restraint, freshness, and old-world sensibilities. With only around 120 cases produced for this bottling, it is an honest, small-batch garagiste wine that shows just how compelling Californian Nebbiolo can be when handled with patience and respect for the vine.

Vineyard & Winery

Viticulture & Terroir

The fruit for this vintage comes from the organically farmed Luna Matta Vineyard, situated in the rugged Adelaida District on the western side of the Paso Robles AVA. Perched at an elevation of roughly 488 metres (1,600 feet) above sea level, the site benefits from intense daytime sunshine tempered by cool evening marine air pulling through the Templeton Gap. The soils are shallow, silty clay loam sitting directly over fractured limestone and calcareous bedrock—a rare and prized terroir in California that mirrors some of northern Italy’s finest hillsides and naturally keeps grape yields small and flavours focused.

Winemaking & Maturation

Hand-harvested at optimal phenolic ripeness, the grapes were destemmed and fermented using indigenous and selected yeasts. To tame Nebbiolo’s naturally ferocious tannins without stripping character, the wine underwent an extended post-fermentation maceration on the skins, refining the wine's grip while building savoury complexity. It was then aged for 24 months in neutral French oak barrels to allow the wine to soften and breathe without masking the delicate varietal aromatics with wood flavour. Following bottling with vegan-friendly fining, the wine was rested in bottle for an additional six months prior to release.