2016 Montalbera Fuori Catalogo Ruchè Barbera DOC

Nose Intense and fruity, with scents of red fruits and apricot

Palate Delicate, smooth and full-bodied, with scents of berries jam.

Vinification Traditional red wine process
Ageing Barbera and Ruchè grapes harvested in slight over-riping conditions. Maturation in steel tanks and subsequently in the bottle positioned horizontally with controlled temperature.

Colour Gaudy-red with slight purple reflections when young, tending to garnet after fining.

The Montalbera Winery was founded at the beginning of the 20th century in an area located in the townships of Grana, Castagnole Monferrato, and Montemagno.

In the mid-1980s, the Morando family began expanding their property by purchasing land in adjacent territories and planting it with new grapevines, prevalently Ruchè; they continue to grow their landholdings. Today, a continuous stretch of vineyard-covered land encircles the winery. The vineyards are planted entirely on hillsides, giving the vines different expositions and soil, from clay to limestone.

A unique aspect that has always distinguished Montalbera in the Piedmontese winemaking landscape is that the winery sits astride two of the region’s most important winemaking zones: the Monferrato and the Langhe.

The vineyards cover six entire hills, which dip down into a valley cultivated with the traditional Piedmontese hazelnut. The vines vary in age from 7 to 30 years, and are trained in low Guyot trellises. All agricultural work is done by hand.