Winemakers and wineries of Roero

The Roero DOCG area of origin is made up of 19 municipalities: all of Canale, Corneliano d’Alba, Piobesi d’Alba and Vezza d’Alba, and parts of Baldissero d’Alba, Castagnito, Castellinaldo, Govone, Guarene, Magliano Alfieri, Montà, Montaldo Roero, Monteu Roero, Monticello d’Alba, Pocapaglia, Priocca, S. Vittoria d’Alba, S. Stefano Roero, and Sommariva Perno. The west has predominantly sandy soils whilst to the east there is sand and loam. One particular feature is the rocche sandstone formations running from north to south.

Pierangelo Careglio began making one of the first Arneis wines in 1986. His son Andrea has since followed in his footsteps: ‘Our intention is to make wine that best showcases the features of our region and grape varieties’, he explains. The estate has grown from 3 to 10 hectares in size over the past 15 years and a new winery facility opened up a year ago. Arneis remains their focus.

www.cantinacareglio.it

The winery was founded in the centre of Canale in 1953, and in 1977 the first Arneis was produced under Antonio Deltetto. Today, his children Carlo, Cristina and Claudia Deltetto also view aromas and acidity as being key elements of a good Roero Arneis, but also produce high-quality, long-lasting Rossi and elegant Spumanti. 25 hectares are currently under production, all cultivated to organic standards.

www.deltetto.com

The Bric Castelvej story began in 1956 with founder Domenico Gallino, and now Mario and Cristiano Repellino run the 13-hectare estate in the hills near Canale. Cristiano and his father focus their attentions on allowing expression to a wide variety of terroirs, showcased in wines such as Vigna Bricco Novara (Arneis in sandy soils to the south-east) and Roero DOCG Riserva Panera Alta (Nebbiolo to the south-west).

www.briccastelvej.com 

In 1949, Marco and Enrico Faccenda’s grandfather bought this estate in Canale with a hectare of vineyards – now there are around 60 hectares of vines. Marco and Enrico Faccenda have been striving for high quality and modern winery technology since the 1990s. In addition, as Marco Faccenda explains, vines are only planted in locations that are ideal for vineyards – such as Valmaggiore MGA, the historic location where Cascina Chicco made its first wine.

www.cascinachicco.com

In 1972, Filippo Gallino was one of the first to join the Club 3P and thus declare his belief in the future of Roero and contribute to the revival of Arneis. The estate is now run by his son Gianni, aided by grandson Lorenzo. Today, 14 hectares are sustainably cultivated, forming the basis for a range of traditional yet innovative wines – from Arneis 4 Luglio (which became a Riserva from 2020 onwards) to Roero Rosso Riserva Sorano.

www.filippogallino.com

Castello di Canale has been owned by the Malabaila family since 1362. Until 2004, the estate’s winery facilities were located in the castello itself. Now, the wine is made entirely in the Cascina Pradvaj winery. Lucrezia Carrega: ‘Every wine is made differently based on its microclimate and soils. The result is terroir-driven wines.’ The principle here: one vineyard, one wine.

www.malabaila.com

A family-run business since 1878 that still produces wine in the same Canale winery. Even the arrival of new owners the Krause Gentile family in 2015 did not change anything. Estate president Nico Conta: ‘Roero is the focus: of our 60 hectares of vineyards, 12 hectares across three municipalities are Roero, which we grow to sustainable standards.’

www.enricoserafino.it

The wine estate began making wine near Canale in the 1950s under the aegis of Giuseppe Damonte. The father’s enthusiasm for winemaking was passed on to Giuseppe’s sons Massimo and Roberto, who now run the 43-hectare estate with their wives and children. Roberto and Massimo Damonte interpret the multifaceted nature of their vineyards via three different red Roero Riserva wines.

www.malvira.com

Marco Monchiero and Lucia Carbone bought this winery at the heart of Canale in 1987 and began making wine there in 1990. Today, their son Francesco runs the family estate with its 35 hectares of vineyards. He is trying to do justice to the ‘many souls of Roero’ with his wines, whether the youthful Arneis or the long-lived Roero Riserve Printi, Bricco Genestreto (both Rosso) and Renesio Incisa (Bianco, currently on the 2017 vintage).

www.monchierocarbone.com

The Negro family has been making wine for four generations, and at Cascina Pace near Canale since 1930. Brothers Pietro and Dino Negro took over the estate in 1996 and now own 35 hectares, of which 26 are planted with vines: sandy soils provide elegance and clay ensures character. The multifaceted Roero Arneis DOCG Giuan da Pas 2011, which spent a year on the lees, offers real ageing potential.

www.pacevini.it 

To Marco Porello, the quality of his wines comes from the vineyard: he knows every plot, every soil formation and every microclimate of his 18 hectares in prime Roero locations like the back of his hand. The estate was founded in Canale in 1954 and Marco has been at the helm since 1994. The ageing potential of his wines – as demonstrated by a vertical tasting going back to the 1990s – is something that constantly surprises even him.

www.porellovini.it

The Solo Roero collaboration was created in 2013 by three young winemakers: Luca Faccenda of the Valfaccenda estate, Enrico Cauda of Cascina Fornace, and Alberto Oggero. This trio solely makes Roero DOCG, both Bianco and Rosso. ‘We believe in this area’s ability to make a fine Bianco and a fine Rosso’, they all agree. They all have different styles, but share a love for quality and their native region.

www.soloroero.it

Angelo – nicknamed Piculin, or ‘the little one’ – founded this family wine estate in Castagnito, and the pQlin brand still owes its name to this ancestor. After Angelo, the estate was run by his descendants Michelina, Eleuterio, and now Margherita. There are now five hectares of vines. The estate makes the entire spectrum of Roero, from fresh Arneis to mature Roero Rosso, in keeping with Angelo’s motto: Il terreno fa l’uva.

www.pqlin.it

The Marsaglia family has been growing traditional south Piedmont varieties (such as Arneis, which has been used to make wine since 1982) for six generations, and thus sets great store by the typical character of the vineyards of Castellinaldo d’Alba, one of the strongholds of Roero winemaking. 16 hectares of vineyards are cultivated, and as well as maturing the wines in oak, Marsaglia also uses acacia wood, terracotta and steel.

www.cantinamarsaglia.it

For more than twenty years, Giuseppe ‘Beppe’ Guido at his wine estate in Cisterna d’Asti has focused on fantastic indigenous offerings. The complex white variety Arneis is particularly important to Beppe Guido: ‘It is our flagship, and we work on it constantly’, he explains, using it to make various different wines. The estate’s 30 hectares of vineyards are spread across the DOCG zones of Roero and Terre Alfieri.

www.pescaja.com

Roero Arneis DOCG 2020

The grapes for this Roero Arneis come from chalk and clay soils near Canale: tempting nose of pome fruit, citrus fruit and flowers, polished on the palate, subtly saline with invigorating acidity.

The vineyards of the estate founded by Mario Pelassa in 1960 stand in the MGAs of Sterloti (12 ha) and Tucci (3 ha) in the municipality of Montà to the north of Roero. In the San Vito site where the Arneis is grown, the soils are sandy with stone and rock, and are rich in minerals. ‘This forms the basis for a very special, hugely mineral white wine’, explains Daniele Pelassa, who runs the estate together with her brother Davide.

www.pelassa.com

Five generations of the Fenocchio have worked at this wine estate and made wine under the Bussia, Cannubi, Castellero and Villero MGAs (among others) within the Barolo region. However, Claudio Fenocchio also planted his first half a hectare of vines in Monteu Roero in 2010. He now owns two hectares in Roero, soon to become four. Claudio Fenocchio: ‘Roero is ideal for its finely chiselled, mineral and elegant wines.’

www.giacomofenocchio.com

Roero Arneis DOCG 2019

After fermentation, the wine is left in fine lees: the result is a spicy and fruity nose with hay aromas plus a touch of menthol, then on the palate the wine is fresh and juicy, polished and smooth.

Alessandro Costa first began making his own wine 15 years ago: his vineyards are in Montà, Canale and Santo Stefano, use integrated pest management, and also largely avoid additional sulphites. The wines from sandy soils such as those that dominate in Montà are lighter, whilst those from clay soils are more structured. This enables Alessandro to play with different terroirs in his wines.

www.ninocostawines.it

For more than 20 years, Giuseppe Viglione has been running this winery in Montà with great flair for tradition and goût de terroir. Twelve of the total of 18 hectares he owns are planted with vines. The soils (in Tucci MGA among others) are dominated by red sand and clay, and are at around 350 metres above sea level. ‘I look for the various nuances of the terroir in a wine’, Giuseppe says. He makes 13 wines, primarily Arneis and Nebbiolo.

www.generaj.it

The Taliano family has been growing vines since the 1930s and now cultivates 15 hectares, five of which are in the Barnaresco area. Ezio Taliano worked as an oenologist at other wineries until 2002, when he joined his brother Alberto at the helm of the family estate in Montà. The next generation is now in the starting blocks in the shape of his niece. The estate’s renowned MGA sites include Serni and Bric Bossora.

www.talianomichele.com

The Negro family has been making wines from indigenous grape varieties in Roero and Langhe since 1670. The two hectares of vineyards that Angelo Negro began with in the early 20th century have now become more than 60, including some of the most famous Roero sites with Cascina Perdaudin in Monteu Roero and Cascina San Vittore in Canale. Today, the estate is run by Giovanni Negro with his children Angelo, Gabriele, Emanuela and Giuseppe.

www.angelonegro.it

Until 2000, this Monteu Roero estate founded in 1883 was one of the classic mixed farms, but after this the Ferrero family began focusing on winemaking and the estate now has 10 hectares of vines to call its own. Back in the early 1980s they began planting Arneis, which Carlo and Vittorio Ferrero consider to be one of the great Piedmont grape varieties. This grape has also been used to make a Metodo Classico DOCG called SOELI´ since 2013.

www.cascinalanzarotti.it

The Francone winery in Neive has been in the same family for five generations. However, Fabrizio Francone explains that Arneis is the flagship white variety for this estate, founded in 1939: Francone began vinifying grapes from Roero vineyards in Castagnito in 2000, then added Priocca in 2009 and another vineyard in 2019 – a total of around three hectares are now cultivated by contract winegrowers who have been working with the family for many years.

www.franconevini.com

Roero Arneis DOCG Magia 2020

A fresh version of Arneis, the grapes for which undergo maceration for around four hours: thyme, sage, apple and citrus aromas on the nose, well balanced and rounded on the palate with a fruity, spicy finish.

This estate, founded in 1955, is now a classic mixed farm with peaches, hazelnuts and grapes, run by Rosavica Benotti and his sons. The two hectares of vineyards are split into eight plots, and in Priocca alone, seven small sites with sand and marl soils form the basis of production. Roero DOCG comes from a plot bordering Canale in a south-southwest location with sandy-clay soils.

info@benottirosavica.it

Roero DOCG Rosso 2016

This Roero is macerated in steel and cement for 40 days and then spends a year maturing in used barriques: compact forest fruit nose, well balanced on the palate with fine-grained tannins and a fruity, spicy finish.

This renowned Barbaresco winery in Neive owned a farm in Vezza d’Alba as far back as 1928. Giovanni, Silvano and Luca Pasquero Elia still cultivate their top white wine in Roero: two hectares of Arneis vines are planted at the Vigneto Elisa vineyard in Priocca, named after their grandmother. ‘With both Arneis and Nebbiolo, we are increasingly looking for tradition’, as Silvano Pasquero Elia explains the estate’s philosophy.

www.paitin.it

Roero DOCG Arneis Elisa 2019

This Arneis spends nearly half a year on the lees, and is aromatic and delicately spicy on the nose and polished on the palate, with accentuated acidity and an elegant, fresh finish. Good with antipasti, fish or white meat.

Tenuta Carretta is one of the Piedmont wine estates most steeped in history: wine was being made in Piobesi d’Alba as far back as 1467. The vineyards stand in a wide range of Roero and Langhe areas, with 40 continuous hectares stretching around the winery in Piobesi d’Alba. Arneis, Nebbiolo, Barbera and Favorita are grown here. ‘The whole spectrum of Piedmont’, as estate director Giovanni Minetti explains.

www.tenutacarretta.it

This estate, founded in the hills of Santo Sefano by father Sandro and uncle Alfredo in 1957, has been run by Silvano Nizza since 2000. Today, eight hectares in the Mombeltrame MGA (among others) are planted with Arneis, Nebbiolo and Barbera, used to make twelve different wines – all to Silvano Nizza’s exacting quality requirements. Hence also the estate’s motto: ‘La Qualità è una scelta – quality is a choice’.

www.nizzasilvano.it

Antica Cascina dei Conti di Roero in Vezza d’Alba has been making wine since 1950. Today, Daniela Olivero and her husband Luigi are responsible for thirteen hectares. ‘Our philosophy can be summed up in a single word: authenticity’, Luigi explains. The grapes are selected from the various terroirs on this expansive estate. Only traditional Piedmont grape varieties are produced.

www.anticacascinacontidiroero.it

The Battaglino family has been cultivating its Roero vineyards – now covering five hectares – for three generations. ‘Each vineyard has its own personality’, Fabrizio Battaglino explains. The family is therefore also hugely committed to the concept of Roero MGAs. The Nebbiolo grapes for the Roero Rosso stand on the Colla hillside near Vezza d’Alba, and soon there will also be a white Bastia Riserva that will undergo a long period of maceration on the skins.

www.battaglino.com

The 25-hectare estate owned by the Demarie family has held organic certification since the 2020 vintage: the vineyards are in Vezza, Castagnito and Guarene, mostly at around 350 metres above sea level in the traditional Roero soils with lots of shell limestone. Arneis white wines are a speciality: the range also includes an orange wine made from Arneis and an Arneis Spumante DOCG. This winery in Vezza d’Alba is now run by Aldo Demarie.

www.demarie.com