Vineyard and winemaking
Ai Suma is made from 100% Barbera, harvested late from Braida's estate vineyards in the hills of Rocchetta Tanaro. The additional time on the vine concentrates the fruit while Barbera's naturally vivid acidity provides essential balance, and the wine is produced only when the growing season offers the quality and conditions the family requires.
The grapes undergo 20 days of temperature-controlled maceration on the skins. The wine then spends 15 months in oak casks followed by a further year in bottle, building depth around the late-harvest fruit while allowing the variety's energy to remain clear.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Very deep ruby with purple-garnet reflections and notable concentration.
Nose
Blackberry, damson and black plum are layered with liquorice, cocoa, vanilla and a savoury note of undergrowth.
Palate
Powerful and enveloping, with plum compote and bramble fruit carried by bright acidity and a firm but velvety tannic frame. Mocha, balsamic herbs and sweet spice broaden the palate, while a fine savoury line keeps the richness in proportion. The finish is long, warming and persistent.
Food pairing
Best with substantial dishes such as slow-braised beef shin, roast haunch of venison, ox cheek with polenta, or a well-aged Parmigiano Reggiano. Decant for an hour and serve at around 17°C to give the concentrated fruit and oak room to open.
Background story
Ai Suma began with the 1989 harvest, when Giacomo Bologna delayed picking a parcel while waiting for Georgian friends to arrive. Two extra weeks of fine weather left the grapes slightly dried and intensely concentrated; the result prompted the Piedmontese expression “Ai Suma”—“Here we are”—and became a wine reserved for exceptional years.
Braida transformed modern perceptions of Barbera by treating the grape with the ambition normally afforded to Italy's most celebrated varieties. Sommelier's Choice has worked with the Bologna family for more than twenty years, a long-standing collaboration built on their uncompromising quality and distinctive generosity.
