La Spinetta - The Full Story

Oct 27, 2025by Garrett Smith

After joining Sushi Nakazawa in mid-2015, I intentionally didn't purchase any wine or sake for at least a month; I really wanted to be within the walls, feel the energy and taste the food in order to learn what belonged to this innately special restaurant. When my self-imposed buying freeze expired, Giorgio Rivetti was my very first producer visit to the restaurant. I'd never met the man - only had had a few of his wines - but within seconds I felt as thought we had been lifelong friends.

"Have you been to Italy yet?!?" Giorgio demanded to know. When I shook my head in sorrow, his mouth dropped open in mock shock. His face quickly broke out in a massive grin. "You come - we'll have a great time, you know I am Selosse importer for Italy, yes?"

I couldn't tell you everything we tasted that day; I told him my focus was going to be heavily on Champagne, and asked if he wanted to chip in some Selosse as a welcome gift (kiddingly). He just broke out in what would become a habitual toothy grin, and pulled out his sparkling wine called Contratto. While not necessarily Selosse-ian, it was incredibly fine, somewhere between Champagne and Franciacorta, but effervescent as he was and is.

My old boss, Dennis Kelly, had pulled a couple of his bottles out of the wall at that fancy French restaurant in Yountville, and remarked that one of his former sommeliers had had a crush on the La Spinetta reds. As they were then, Rivetti's reds are of pitch-perfect ripeness, not a stern bottle amongst them, which is of great surprise given that most of them are Nebbiolo. I felt the same sense of pleasure I always derive from terrific Sonoma Coast Pinot - juicy, yet full of structure; age-worthy and full of potential, but not too self-serious.

This collection was sourced from an industry cellar from where the wines have not budged since release until their journey to Thatcher's Wine. It's an unparalleled chance to grab gorgeously-aged wines at fantastic value.

THE FULL LIST

Barbera d'Asti

2001 La Spinetta, Barbera d'Asti, Superiore $38

Bionzo

"The production per hectare at Bionzo is very low, resulting in a unique expression of Barbera."
2006 La Spinetta, Barbera d'Asti, Superiore Bionzo $50
2003 La Spinetta, Barbera d'Asti, Superiore Bionzo $40

Barbaresco

2002 La Spinetta, Barbaresco $189

Gallina

"Gallina allows us to produce wines that are refined with great elegance; these are sensual wines with surprising longevity, characterized by intense floral aromas, combined with delicate notes of eucalyptus and mint."
2006 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Gallina Vursu Vigneto $189
2005 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Gallina Vursu Vigneto $128
2004 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Gallina Vursu Vigneto $168
2003 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Gallina Vursu Vigneto $138
2001 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Gallina Vursu Vigneto $115
2000 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Gallina Vursu Vigneto $138
1999 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Gallina Vursu Vigneto $198
2001 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Gallina Vursu Vigneto 1.5L $298

Starderi

"Starderi always produces wines which express a rich character while maintaining great elegance."
2006 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Starderi Vursu Vigneto $178
2006 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Starderi Vursu Vigneto $178
2005 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Starderi Vursu Vigneto $168
2004 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Starderi Vursu Vigneto $168
2003 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Starderi Vursu Vigneto $138
2001 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Starderi Vursu Vigneto $108
2000 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Starderi Vursu Vigneto $148
2001 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Starderi Vursu Vigneto 1.5L $298

Valeirano

"The soils at Valeirano are very similar to those from Serralunga which results in a Barbaresco which has some deep links to Barolo. This Barbaresco cru is characterized by great longevity and minerality."
2006 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Valeirano Vursu Vigneto $189
2005 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Valeirano Vursu Vigneto $148
2004 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Valeirano Vursu Vigneto $168
2003 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Valeirano Vursu Vigneto $128
2001 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Valeirano Vursu Vigneto $108
2000 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Valeirano Vursu Vigneto $118
2001 La Spinetta, Barbaresco, Valeirano Vursu Vigneto 1.5L $298

Campe

"This vineyard represents the maximum expression of Barolo. It is capable of giving elegance and power as well as extraordinary balance."

2004 La Spinetta, Barolo, Vigneto Campe $148
2003 La Spinetta, Barolo, Vigneto Campe $118

Rosso Pin

"The synergy between Barbera and Nebbiolo results in a bouquet of fruit, flowers, and spices."
2004 La Spinetta, Monferrato, Rosso Pin $60
2003 La Spinetta, Monferrato, Rosso Pin $55
2000 La Spinetta, Monferrato, Rosso Pin $55
2001 La Spinetta, Monferrato, Rosso Pin 1.5L $115

Sezzana

"Made only in the best vintages, Sezzana, our most historic vineyard, gives us a wonderful expression of Sangiovese."
2001 La Spinetta, Sezzana, IGT 1.5L $225

Nero Casanova

"The most representative wine from the Casanova estate. Its name ‘Nero’, derives from “vino nero” which is what Tuscan red wines were tradionally called. "
2004 La Spinetta, Toscana Sangiovese Nero Casanova, IGT $30