Ghemme is situated on the hills overlooking the River Sesia, between the town of the same name and part of Romagnano Sesia, in a wine-growing landscape shaped by ancient fluvio-glacial deposits. The vineyards occupy sunny slopes, generally at altitudes of between 220 and 400 metres, on clayey, sandy, silty and stony soils, with a variable structure that promotes a balance between drainage, water retention and grape ripening. The proximity of the Alps and the cool air currents from Valsesia contribute to a climate characterised by marked daily temperature variations, which are vital for the development of aromas and the preservation of freshness.
The main grape variety is Nebbiolo, known locally as Spanna, sometimes complemented by Vespolina and Uva Rara. This ampelographic heritage produces ruby-coloured red wines that develop a garnet hue, with fine, intense and ethereal aromas, and a dry, savoury, structured and dynamic palate. The winemaking process enhances the identity of the terroir through prolonged maceration and ageing: the appellation requires a long period of ageing in wood followed by further ageing in the bottle, a process that is even more extensive in the Riserva version. The local winemaking history, documented since ancient times and consolidated by the DOCG designation in 1997, lives on today through the continued use of traditional hillside methods and the artisanal care of the vineyards.
