Caluso lies at the historic heart of Erbaluce wine-growing in the Canavese region, within the morainic amphitheatre of Ivrea – a vast glacial formation characterised by hills, terraces and soils rich in morainic material. The presence of the Serra lakes and the breezes from the Alps contribute to a bright, dry and well-ventilated microclimate, favourable to the slow and steady ripening of the grapes.
The signature grape variety is Erbaluce, a white variety grown as a single-varietal wine and capable of producing wines of remarkable freshness, structure and longevity. The Erbaluce di Caluso or Caluso appellation encompasses still wine, sparkling wine, passito and passito riserva, all of which share a distinct territorial character. The sparkling wine is produced using the classic method and aged on the lees, whilst the passito versions are made from whole, healthy bunches that have been left to dry, followed by long periods of ageing.
The local winemaking tradition, formalised with the award of DOC status in 1967 and DOCG status in 2010, is based on viticulture that focuses on the selection of grapes and the enhancement of the various expressions of Erbaluce, ranging from a dry, mineral profile to the more intense nuances of the dried-grape wines.