The vineyards i cultivate
Monforte d’Alba is a borderland, with a shifting, elusive and particularly thrilling landscape.
There are vineyards overlooking Alba's plain and woods stretching towards the Alta Langa area.
There are incredibly steep as well as slight slopes, lonely hills rising suddenly from the ground, and others sloping gently away towards the Tanaro Valley, covered in wheat fields. Some of the highest Barolo hills, reaching over 500 metres in height, are located in Monforte; sometimes, when the fog covers the surrounding area like a blanket, they look like islands floating on a milky sea.
It’s in Monforte that I spent my childhood.
It's here that I got to know the best exposure for the vines, the names of the hills, when to visit the vineyards and when to stay home, to observe the rhythm of the seasons.
It's here that, together with my cousin Marco, I cultivate my family's vineyards.
They are small plots of land, requiring endless manual treatments and frequent visits to the rows of vines. These vineyards surround the winery founded by my grandparents at the end of the 19th century, in the hamlet of Sant’Anna. Moreover, we own five hectares of land in the Bussia area, also called the Gran Dama of Monforte, since this is the most essential cru to make Barolo – an iconic wine, much beloved all over the world.
technical data
Monforte’s Vineyards
Bric
The Bric vineyard – a Piemontese word referring to the top of a hill – is located next to the historical winery. It is divided into two areas: the lower one, or Bric Basso, where Dolcetto grapes are grown; and the higher one, or Bric Alto, devoted to Barbera grapes. It's a warm and sunny vineyard, with a perfect exposure. The wines obtained from this plot are full-bodied and well-structured, with excellent alcoholic content, good acidity and bright colours.
- Surface area: 3 hectares
- Altitude: 450 - 480 metres
- Grape variety: Dolcetto, Barbera
- Soil structure: mainly clay and limestone
- Exposure: South, South-West
Ghilardi
A marvellous, amphitheatre-shaped vineyard overlooking the village of Monforte d’Alba. Thanks to its shape, it is sheltered from the wind and it enjoys a warm and dry microclimate. Its great exposure and a soil rich in limestone make it ideal to grow elegant and refined Nebbiolo grapes, with soft and persistent tannins.
- Surface area: 4 hectares
- Altitude: 450 metres
- Grape variety: Nebbiolo
- Soil structure: clay and limestone
- Exposure: South, South-West
Miliate
The Miliate vineyard is located just behind the historic winery. It looks to the East, towards the village of Roddino and the Alta Langa hills. It's one of the oldest family vineyards: it was planted in the past century by my grandfather Angelo. This is the vineyard we chose to harvest the grapes for our Giovane Ribelle: a traditional-method sparkling wine made with 100% Nebbiolo grapes following white vinification methods.
- Surface area: 2 hectares
- Altitude: 450 metres
- Grape variety: Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Barbera
- Soil structure: clay and limestone
- Exposure: South, South-West
Suria
The Surì vineyard, located east of the winery in Monforte d’Alba, is on a steep slope and requires careful manual interventions. Due to the limestone soil and the eastern exposure – meaning the grapes receive sunlight mainly in the morning – the Nebbiolo grapes grown here are particularly fresh and crunchy, with excellent acidity. This is where we harvest the grapes for our Sirì, a rosé wine made with Nebbiolo and a small amount of Barbera grapes. It’s a fresh, young and vivacious semi-sparkling wine, with wonderful cherry notes, perfect for an aperitif or any time you need to make a toast.
- Surface area: 2 hectares
- Altitude: 400 metres
- Grape variety: Nebbiolo, Dolcetto
- Soil structure: clay and limestone
- Exposure: South, South-East
Monticello d’Alba's vineyards
Monticello d’Alba's vineyards are located on the Roero Hills, on the left side of the Tanaro River. Their exposure is to the West: they stretch around the pretty church devoted to the Virgin Mary, Santuario della Madonna di Castellero, and they are surrounded by woods. Due to the mainly sandy soil and the warm and windy microclimate, the grapes grown here are perfectly ripe, juicy, and fragrant. In Monticello, we mainly grow Arneis: a white grape variety, native to this area. We use it to make our Roero Arneis: a pleasant and fine wine, with flowery notes and an elegant mineral touch.
- Surface area: 5 hectares
- Altitude: 250 metres
- Grape variety: Arneis, Barbera
- Soil structure: mainly marl and sandstone
- Exposure: South, South-West