Founded in the early 20th century, the Montalbera winery is situated at the top of the eponymous Bricco Montàlbera site, which lies between the townships of Grana, Castagnole Monferrato and Montemagno. It is surrounded by the vineyards of the estate, which form a single, circular-shaped plot of hillside land, with different exposures and soils that vary from clay to limestone. The vines cover four entire hills with the exception of the valley floor, where hazelnuts, a typical Piedmontese crop, are cultivated.
In the mid-1980s, the Morando family under the leadership of Enrico Riccardo Morando began expanding the property by purchasing land in adjacent territories and planting it with new grapevines, mainly Ruchè, a unique and scarce local grape that produces fruity, vividly aromatic reds. The estate now spans both the Monferrato and Langhe zones and cultivates varieties typical of both.
But it is the Ruchè that has become the estate’s calling card. They own an estimated 60% of the Ruchè vines under cultivation, from which they produce several styles of wine, from a lighter easy-drinking style matured in stainless steel, to a dessert wine made from dried grapes. Grignolino, another uncommon heirloom variety, is also cultivated, yielding an unusual light-colored red wine with juniper and spice aromas and refreshing tannic bitterness. Rounding out the lineup are a Barbera matured in a combination of large and small-format oak, and a unique white wine made from Viognier.
Products
