Rocco di Carpeneto

Sun, earth and passion — nothing more

Rocco di Carpeneto sits on a small plateau in the hills of Alto Monferrato, near the village of Carpeneto (province of Alessandria). According to the makers themselves, the wines are “made with only sun, earth and passion”, in strict allegiance with the rhythm of nature and with the principle of do nothing farming or less is more.

In the vineyard

12 hectares of vineyards, mostly straddling the border between Carpeneto and Rocca Grimalda, at around 280 metres of altitude. The vines are between 38 and 69 years old — planted between 1955 and 1986. No fertilisers, no ploughing, organically farmed with only a small dose of copper. Grapes are hand-picked into small crates. There are also two small parcels managed on the Ligurian coast, in Bonassola (next to the Cinque Terre) and Carrodano — quite literally vineyards by the sea.

In the cellar

A completely new cellar built in 2011-2012, deliberately kept free of any selected yeasts brought from elsewhere. All fermentations are spontaneous, with wild yeasts only. No additions, no filtration, no fining, no stabilisation, no temperature control. Vinification and ageing take place in a mix of stainless steel, concrete, large old wooden foudres, terracotta amphorae, old barriques and tonneaux, and acacia barrels — chosen to fit each cuvée.

The grapes

The focus is firmly on indigenous Piedmontese grapes: cortese, moscato (white), barbera, dolcetto, freisa, albarossa and nebbiolo. The Ligurian parcels supply albarola, vermentino and bosco. All the wines are deliberately bottled outside the DOP system — a statement in itself.

The style

A wide range of radical, long-lived wines, mostly on a single-cru basis. From crisp cortese and refreshing pet-nats refermented in bottle (Andeira, Bett), through deep dolcettos (Aur-Oura, Losna, Steira, Erche) and expressive barberas (Rapp, Rataraura, Reitemp), to rarities like albarossa (Admura) and nebbiolo (Ra Neira). And on top of that, white and red vermouth and grappa.

— in short: a playground for anyone who loves honest, unpolished Italian natural wine.