It all starts with a joke at the bar: "Give me a wine from the box, but a good one." From this promise made by the father of Alessandra Costa, a sommelier from Alessandria, Sfusobuono was born in October 2020 together with Paolo Vaccarella: the first Italian online shop specializing in Bag-in-Box wines, created from the desire to give quality bulk wine a second life during the pandemic. Today the project brings together dozens of small, independent winemakers, each individually selected, who cultivate their vineyards with respect to produce fresh, balanced wines made for everyday enjoyment. The Bag-in-Box protects the wine from light and oxygen, preserves its quality for thirty days after opening, and is more sustainable than glass: three liters, the equivalent of four bottles, with a significantly lower environmental impact.
The Bag in Box Rosato by Sfusobuono is the house rosé, refreshing and a perfect companion for the table. Made from red-skinned grapes aged in steel, it focuses on a moderate alcohol content that makes it pleasant in every season. On the nose, it reveals aromas of strawberry, raspberry, and rose petals. On the palate, it is dry and refreshing, light and smooth, supported by a lively freshness that invites you to sip, ideal with flavorful and exotic dishes, such as curry chicken, or with a mixed cheese platter for a more traditional pairing.
The Macerato di Sfusobuono is born in Piemonte from white grapes that undergo a three-day maceration on the skins in cement tanks. The delicate amber color anticipates a nose with hints of ripe yellow-fleshed fruit such as peach and apricot, with almond notes on the finish. On the palate, it is rich and full, with light tannic sensations given by the maceration. To be shared together with a Ligurian focaccia.
The Langhe Bianco by Sfusobuono is made from a blend of Arneis and Viognier, grown in Alta Langa. The winemaking takes place exclusively in steel tanks, a choice that preserves the freshness and liveliness of the grapes. The straw yellow color introduces hints of fresh fruit, with echoes of medicinal herbs and notes of chamomile. The sip is tense and vertical with a sapidity that invites the next sip. Ideal for an aperitif with butter and anchovies.
The Vermentino from Sfusobuono originates in the southeastern Sardinia, a land famous for the ancient stone towers that are symbols of the island. The winemaking takes place in steel to preserve the freshness of the fruit. On the nose, it is fresh, with hints of white-fleshed fruit, green apple, and light citrus notes, while the sip is light, savory, and smooth. Perfect with a plate of trofie al pesto.
The Bag in Box Riesling from Sfusobuono is a fresh and crystalline white, rooted in the limestone soils of Oltrepò Pavese. From organic cultivation to certification and vinified solely in steel, it delivers in the glass the most immediate face of this grape variety, produced with artisanal care. On the nose, it reveals aromas of pear and green apple, with fresh white flowers and a smoky hint on the finish. On the palate, it is tense and clean, with pronounced saltiness and minerality, with a salty and persistent closure, perfect with a dish of trofie al pesto or sushi, to be tried with amberjack nigiri.
The Langhe Rosso by Sfusobuono is made from Nebbiolo grapes grown on the hills of Piedmont and represents the everyday and more accessible face of this grape variety, far from the more austere registers of Barolo and Barbaresco. Offered in a 3-liter Bag in Box format, an alternative to glass, lightweight and fully recyclable, it stands out on the nose for notes of spices, underbrush, and dried violet, while on the palate it shows good structure, a present but balanced tannin, and a long persistence. A versatile red, perfect paired with tajarin with sausage ragù.
The Bag in Box Barbera by Sfusobuono is a delicious red that tells the tradition of Piedmontese bulk wine. It is made from red grapes grown at three hundred meters above sea level and rests solely in steel, to preserve the young freshness of the grape variety, a character that lends itself perfectly to the format in which it is presented. On the nose, it opens with winey aromas of blueberry, blackberry, and violet. On the palate, it is fresh and enveloping, full-bodied with soft tannins, with a full and smooth sip, perfect with a plate of tajarin with sausage ragù or with bread and salami.
The Bag in Box Pinot Noir by Sfusobuono comes from the most suitable vineyards of Oltrepò Pavese, worked with love and artisanal care. From cultivation to organic certification and vinified with essential processing, it is a red with a genuine and relaxed face, far from any austerity. On the nose, it reveals aromas of wild strawberry and raspberry, with a hint of black pepper. On the palate, it is fresh and slim, with a slender body and delicate tannin, with a smooth sip, ideal with Varzi salami or a margherita pizza.
Sfusobuono: Good box wine, straight from the winemaker
Sfusobuono: Good box wine, straight from the winemaker
Behind Sfusobuono there is no catalog, only people you know personally: small, independent winemakers, many of them working under organic guidelines, who intervene as little as possible in the cellar and treat the vineyard with the utmost respect. Regional grape varieties and careful work result in immediate, sociable wines for everyday life, including low-alcohol options for those seeking lightness without giving up on taste.
