A Guided Tasting of Back-Vintage Alpine Nebbiolo *sit down, guided tasting* - Insider Wine

A Guided Tasting of Back-Vintage Alpine Nebbiolo

You’re Invited to a Guided Tasting with Insider Wine’s Founder, Alex Abbott Boyd

Fine Wine Reserve members are invited to join Insider Wine’s founder and sommelier, Alex Abbott Boyd, for an exclusive guided tasting of back-vintage Nebbiolo wines from northern Italy’s Piedmont and Lombardy regions.

The theme of the tasting will be “Alpine Nebbiolo,” where guests will explore the unique character that Italy’s most noble grape takes on when grown in the foothills of the Alps, much further north than Barolo and Barbaresco. The tasting will feature vintages dating back to 2015, offering attendees the opportunity to experience several of northern Italy’s "grand cru" vineyards, including Valtellina’s Inferno vineyard and Lessona’s Vigna Gaja vineyard.

Guests will also have the opportunity to purchase the featured wines after the tasting.

Limited Seating – Reserve Your Spot Today!

March 5th, 2025 | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Sit-down, guided tasting

March 6th, 2025 | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Sit-down, guided tasting

Tickets $15

Please e-transfer the ticket fee of $15 per person to:

alex@insiderwine.ca

or

finewinereserve@clerk.co (not .com)

Featured Wines

Massimo Clerico, Lessona Riserva, 2015

Lessona, Piedmont, Italy

Massimo Clerico's Lessona is a Nebbiolo of remarkable depth and elegance. The nose offers aromas of dried flowers, forest floor, and wild strawberries. On the palate, it presents silky tannins, zesty high acidity, and a clean, savory finish. Incredibly food-friendly, the 2015 Lessona Riserva pairs beautifully with wild boar ragù and mushroom risotto.

Massimo Clerico, Lessona Riserva “Vigna Gaja,” 2015

Lessona, Piedmont, Italy

Sourced exclusively from Massimo's oldest and best vineyard, "Vigna Gaja," planted in 1970, this wine is among Piedmont’s rarest and most meticulously crafted wines. Most importantly, it is complex, energetic, and incredibly long on the palate. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on the biggest names in Barolo or Barbaresco, this wine offers exceptional depth of fruit and three-dimensional terroir expression.

Pair with:Italian cheeses, Peking duck, or roast lamb with Italian herbs.

Nicola Nobili “Inferno Riserva,” 2018

Valtellina, Lombardy, Italy

"Inferno" means "Hell" in Italian, named after the intense heat that radiates from the vineyard's rocky soils. Inferno is one of Valtellina’s most famous and powerful vineyard sites.

Nicola Nobili's 2018 Inferno Riserva is a graceful, mineral-driven red, seamlessly integrating firm, fine-grained tannins with flavors of dried flowers, raspberries, spices, and mountain herbs. At six years old, it is entering its prime drinking window and will continue to age beautifully for another 5–10 years.

Pair with:Porchetta with rosemary or miso-glazed eggplant.

Nicola Nobili “Sassella,” 2021

Valtellina, Lombardy, Italy

Sassella is one of five "Superiore" sub-zones of Valtellina and is often regarded as the most classic expression of the region.

Nicola Nobili's 2021 Sassella features hauntingly beautiful aromas of red fruits, dried flowers, and spices. On the palate, the wine is harmonious, velvety, and vibrant. At just three years old, it is already showing exceptional balance and complexity and will continue to evolve over the next 5–8 years.

Pair with:Duck breast with berry sauce, Korean BBQ, or pumpkin risotto with sage.

Introducing Alex Abbott Boyd of Insider Wine

Alex Abbott Boyd, founder of Insider Wine, is a lifelong entrepreneur. Before moving to Toronto from New York City in 2022, he founded, scaled, and sold the organic cocktail mixer brand Cocktail Crate.

Deeply passionate about fine wine and food, Alex later passed the Court of Master Sommeliers certification exam and launched Insider Wine in 2023. His mission is to satisfy wine lovers’ thirst for both fine wine and knowledge by sharing iconic small-production wineries and shedding light on under-the-radar wine regions.

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Click below to RSVP and secure your place at this exclusive tasting.