Region: Piedmont, Italy

Varietal: 100% Barbera

Tasting notes: A dark garnet robe leads to a deep, earthy fruit nose and a palate loaded with bright, spicy Barbera fruit and smooth tannins followed by a deliciously perfumed finish. The scent of black cherry and black currant stands out on the nose, along with fern and cloves.

Producer: Pietro Giuseppe Arditi began working Cantine Valpane in 1900 under a sharecropping agreement with the Fojadelli family. After the passion for his work had earned the family’s confidence, he purchased Valpane in 1902. His eldest daughter, Lydia became fascinated by his craft and began working alongside him, eventually taking over the estate. Today Lydia’s nephew, also named Pietro, runs the estate. He bursts with pride in the distinguished history of Valpane, but never takes credit personally for his wonderful wines. “People tell me I’m a great winemaker,” he says, “but the wines of Valpane have been winning awards for well over a century, so it can’t be my doing. I’m just careful not to ruin what the land gives us!”

Vineyard and Winemaking: Since 2017 all the estate’s products have organic certification, but Valpane has always been run with respect for nature and the land. For example, rainwater is still recovered and reused thanks to a cistern from the 1700s and for heating the house and cellar vine shoots are recycled. For ‘Rosso Pietro’ fermentation takes place in cement tanks and lasts 21-23 days. The wine is then aged 10-12 months in stainless steel and cement tanks before bottling to preserve freshness, and then another 3 months of settling in the bottle before release.