BARBERA
Italians have argued in the past on whether it was correct to say “la barbera” or “il barbera”, as usually the male pronoun is used for grapes.
Now we all agree that Barbera is female, but why? Lionella Genovese, sommelier organizer of the event “La Barbera is female” in which we participated, sums it up well with these words:
“Barbera is female because I find it similar to me: elegant, sweet, round, multifaceted, elusive, like any woman”.
Barbera in the past was an everyday red wine, homely, popular, humble, always used as a comparison with more noble wines.
Today it finds its place among the great Italian wines having demonstrated its great versatility.
Barbera can be simple and straightforward, easy to drink and pair, but it can also become a wine of great structure, power and richness with complex aromas if cultivated and produced with viticultural and oenological care.
For this reason we decided to produce three different expressions of Barbera coming from different vineyards all located in Agliano Terme, one of the most suited areas for this vine.
Our interpretations of Barbera:
From Barbera grapes we obtain our Barbera d’Asti Sanbastian DOCG, Barbera d’Asti Superiore Valrionda DOCG and Nizza DOCG.
Nizza: our cru and flagship wine.
Nizza obtained DOCG status in 2014.
This wine is only produced in a small area of 18 municipalities surrounding the city of Nizza Monferrato.
As a DOCG there are strict requirements to maintain the high quality standards.
The “Cru” identified in the Nizza map, created by Alessandro Masnaghetti in 2018, identicates the most prestigious one in the area and also includes our Vigna Dacapo Cru which was planted in 1960.
THE CLUSTER AND THE BERRY
The cluster is medium, pyramidal, quite short, tends to be compact, with a short wing.
The berry is medium, with a very pruinose skin of an intense blue color.
AROMATIC, VISUAL AND TASTE PROFILE
Wine with a very lively ruby red color, vinous bouquet, fine, rich of intense fruity scents, good body, energetic acidity, harmonic taste, persistent.
RUCHÉ
Ruché is one of the peculiar indigenous variety among those cultivated in Monferrato Astigiano.
Its rebirth of this designation is due to a parish priest of Castagnole Monferrato, Don Giacomo Cauda, who in the sixties rediscovered this abandoned grape variety and relaunched a wine destined to register great fortune.
It obtained the DOC in 1987 and the DOCG in 2010.
Its production today reaches one million bottles.
Our vineyards are located in Castagnole Monferrato, on the hill of Sant’Eufemia, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the heart of the production area.
THE CLUSTER AND THE BERRY
The Ruchè grape is quite tight and has a medium-large, elongated pyramidal cluster with two wings.
The berry is medium-small and very pruinose.
AROMATIC, VISUAL AND TASTE PROFILE
Ruby red color with garnet reflections, it has an intense and original bouquet, with floral notes (rose and violet)and spicy notes.
The acidity tends to be low, but the tannin is rather marked.
GRIGNOLINO
The name Grignolino has its probable origin from the dialect word “grignòle”, that means grape-seeds, being the berries of this variety particularly rich of grape seeds.
Our vineyards are located in Agliano Terme.
THE CLUSTER AND THE BERRY
The Grignolino grape has a compact, medium-sized, elongated pyramidal cluster with one or two wings.
The berry is medium-small, skin color is variegated and not uniformly distributed, from red to pink, purple and even green.
AROMATIC, VISUAL AND TASTE PROFILE
The wine has a light ruby red color, flowery and delicate, fruity with dominant notes of strawberry and raspberry with a slight hint of oriental spices.
Slightly tannic, dry and harmonious, warm and pleasant with a refined, aftertaste of almonds.
NEBBIOLO
Nebbiolo is an indigenous grape variety, one of the most recognized in Piedmont.
The origin of its name, might come from “nebbia” (fog), because the berries are covered by rich bloom. Others say, that it is related to the time of harvesting, in late October, when vineyards are covered by morning fog.
It is cultivated in Langhe, Roero, Monferrato and Alto Piemonte.
Our vineyards are located in Castagnole Monferrato.
Since the harvest 2017 we produce a wine with 100% Nebbiolo grapes whit the appellation Monferrato Rosso DOC, starting from harvest 2019, after the recognition of the new DOC, we can finally call the wine Monferrato Nebbiolo.
THE CLUSTER AND THE BERRY
Medium-large cluster, elongated cone-shaped, with two wings, moderately compact.
Berry medium-small, dark violet in color but which appears almost grey due to the rich bloom.
AROMATIC, VISUAL AND TASTE PROFILE
Elegant and refined wine with a ruby red color, intense bouquet with floral and spicy notes, sustained acidity, balanced tannin, persistent, particularly suitable for aging
MOSCATO BIANCO DI CANELLI
Moscato can be defined as the Sweet King of the Langhe.
It is one of the most recognized aromatic grape varieties.
In particular, Moscato Bianco di Canelli is certainly the most famous one.
Our vineyards are located in the heart of the production area in Castiglione Tinella, places where the limestone and tuffaceous soils help the aromatic note typical of this grape variety.
THE CLUSTER AND THE GRAPE
The cluster is of medium-small size, moderately compact, conical cylinder, with one or less often two short wings.
The berry is medium sized, circular in cross-section, with a slightly pruinose skin, golden yellow in color that becomes amber in the part exposed to the sun with characteristic brownish spots.
AROMATIC, VISUAL AND TASTE PROFILE
In order to produce our Moscato d’Asti, before the harvest, we analyze the grapes of each vineyards to identify aromatic bouquet of our grapes by selecting samples of grapes in each vineyard in order to then identify th best grapes to be used in order to enhance the best aromas.
In fact, the different climatic conditions of each vintage influence these components.
Our goal is to obtain a wine with a more complex bouquet and with an inimitable aroma.
The bouquet of our Muscat has floral (elderflower) and sage scents as well as hints of peach and apricot, lychee, honey and musk.
OUR WINES
With our Moscato grapes we produce Moscato d’Asti DOCG a unique wine for its intense aromatic bouquet and its low alcohol content.
Our goal is to obtain a wine with a perfect balance between acidity and sweetness, lightly sparkling, whit persistent aromas of fruit and flowers.
With the same grapes we also produce a Passito in selected vintages.
Finally, berry skins and seeds, remained after the soft pressing of Moscato grapes, are distilled to produce two types of Moscato Grappa: young and aged in barrique.
DOLCETTO
Dolcetto is a traditional grape variety, which gives origin to a simple daily wine with a great balance, excellent in combination with cured meat, cheese and stuffed pasta, typical of the regional cuisine.
The name Dolcetto comes from the Piedmontese dialect “ducet” (hillock) because it was normally cultivated in the lower part of the hill where slopes are more gentle.
Dolcetto is a robust grape variety which ripens early.
THE CLUSTER AND THE GRAPE
Average size, medium spread, pyramidal rather long, winged. The skin is well pruinose, bluish black, thin.
AROMATIC, VISUAL AND TASTE PROFILE
Intense purple-red colored wine, delicate and elegant with marked aroma of black cherry, blueberries and plum, floral bouquet with hints of violet and an almond finish.
Balanced wine with good body and moderate acidity.
