The Nebbiolo grapes for this wine are usually sourced mainly from the vineyard “Ravera” in Novello, but in 2016 Nebbiolo grapes are included from parcels located in 10 out of the 11 municipalities in DOCG Barolo. The age of the vines varies from 10 to 43 years, and most plots are also in transition to organic cultivation. All parcels are vinified separately, and blending is done immediately before bottling.
The grapes go through a long alcoholic fermentation in steel tanks with continuous pumping and stirring. The wine is then transferred to wooden barrels for the malolactic fermentation and matures for 30 months in both large wooden barrels and small barriques.
“Castiglione” draws small details and characters from all the vineyards where it is made, and a good vinification has given the wine a perfect overall harmony that both impresses and seduces.
The wine starts with delicate, balsamic notes of mint and roses, but quite quickly reveals deeper fruit characters of cherry, plum and wild blackberry. The taste is both sonorous and velvety. It grows a lot with oxygen. Serve it with game birds, venison, beef and cheese.
The Vietti winery is located in the district of Langhe in Piedmont – more specifically at the village of Castiglione Falletto, which is particularly known for its Barolo wines. The winery was founded at the end of the 19th century by Carlo Vietti and thanks to the following generations, several vineyards have since been acquired – including some of the most highly regarded “Cru’s” in Barolo.
The 1960s became a decisive era for the company, when Luciana Vietti married the famous winemaker and art connoisseur, Alfredo Currado, who, among other things, was the first to produce single-vineyard wines (from, among other things, the cru vineyard “Rocche di Castiglione”), which made him an important trendsetter in Barolo. Alfredo was also called “Arneis’ father” because in 1967 he introduced a white wine produced exclusively from this rare, local grape. It was also he who in 1974 hired Italian artists to decorate the labels of some of Vietti’s wines – a practice that still exists.
The son-in-law, Mario Cordero, took over the management of the company in the 1980s and the son, Luca Currado Vietti, and his wife, Elena, then took over in the 1990s and onwards. Over the years, Alfredo’s life’s work has been continued with the same enthusiasm and striving to produce absolutely top-class wines. In 2016, the two branches of the Vietti family sell the company to the American family Krause (Krause Group), which, among other things, operates a chain of convenience stores in the United States. With the purchase, it is agreed that Luca and Elena will continue the management of Vietti until the beginning of 2023, after which the Krause family has now taken over the day-to-day management themselves. However, the continuity in relation to the high quality of the Vietti wines is still in the very safe hands of chief winemaker, Eugene Palumbo, who has been with Vietti since 2001.
Few places on earth are more beautiful than Piedmont on a sunny autumn day. The rolling hills with vineyards stand in golden colors with the snowy Alps in the background and blue sky above. What characterizes the autumn in Piedmont is now otherwise mist, which occurs when the cold mountain air from the Alps meets the warm air from the lowlands. In terms of wine, there are no other areas in Italy with so many DOC and DOCG. Wines such as Barbaresco, Barolo, Langhe, Barbera d’Alba or Moscato d’Asti have their staunch supporters, although the high prices for some of the wines put a damper on enthusiasm.
The DOCG district (approx. 1,980 ha of vineyards), where Barolo is produced, takes its name from the village of Barolo, approx. 15 km. south of the city of Alba. Here you will find some of Piedmont’s most famous vineyards and wine producers around the towns of La Morra, Barolo, Monforte d’Alba, Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d’Alba. The hilly district with countless castle ruins on top of the mountains is a delight for tourists! There are no less than 181 “subzones” (“menzioni geografiche aggiuntive” or MeGAs) in the DOCG Barolo, among them a number of famous vineyards, which can almost be compared to “Cru” fields known from France. Strict legislation regarding the regulation of grapes (100% Nebbiolo), yield and aging in barrels has meant a great improvement in quality. Here you will find wines with a garnet red color and nuances of plums, tar and English licorice. A good content of tannin usually ensures them a long life.
