Transmontanus, Italian (Calvisius)

European-raised White Sturgeon producing larger, firmer beads than the California style. The Italian feed and water produce a rounder butteriness with more structure. A useful comparison piece for connoisseurs used to the American original.

Large firm beads worth tasting on their own first — the extra bead size delivers a notably different texture from California White Sturgeon.

Pairings

Champagne

Vintage Champagne

Wine

White Burgundy, Lugana

Spirits

Chilled vodka

Production

Source

farmed

Producer

Calvisius (Lombardy, Italy)

Processing

malossol

Grade

royal

Legal & sourcing

Farmed white sturgeon (European-raised); fully legal in the US.

CITES Appendix II — international trade requires documentation. Wild harvest is banned; all commercial product is farmed.

European-farmed White Sturgeon — bigger, firmer beads than the California style.