Cascina Barisél / Franco Penna
With just 5 hectares, Franco Penna's winery is small but exquisite. The estate near Canelli, east of Alba, comprises only the very best south-facing sites with calcareous soils. Franco's father Enrico, who bought the estate in the 1960s, obviously knew what he was doing.
Practically half of the vineyard is planted with Moscato bianco. One hectare is dedicated to Barbera, from which La Cappelletta is made, and the remaining land planted with Dolcetto and Favorita. In recent years, Franco Penna, like so many other winemakers, has adapted his winegrowing and increasingly relies on organic methods. The vineyards around Canelli are among the most valuable in Piedmont, especially because of the fragrant, finely sparkling Moscato d'Asti. Franco Penna is committed to keeping these soils alive through the appropriate cultivation.
Sweet wines from Cascina Barisél / Franco Penna
from Cascina Barisél / Franco Penna
La Cappelletta is vinified only in the very best years. The vines were planted in 1955. The yields are low, with about 500 grams per vine. The wine is aged for 12 to 16 months in barriques and spends at least one more year in the bottle before being released for sale. A classic Barbera of considerable stature.
Producer
Podere Le Bèrne / Fam. Natalini
Winemaker Andrea Natalini and his nephew Frederico, the budding oenologist at the winery, are the pillars of the family business. But at Le Bèrne, everyone pitches in to make great wines! Wines of excellent quality at fair prices, authentic, warm-hearted, and inviting, just like their producers. Welcome to Italy!
Paladin
The vineyards of the Paladin winery are located in the border area between the Eastern Veneto and Friuli, where wine was already being grown in Roman times. At that time, the wines of this area were shipped in amphorae from the nearby sea ports to Rome, as reported by the historian Pliny.
Bodegas Ribas
We could talk about Bodega Ribas on Mallorca, all day long. But it's best to see and read for yourself! We sent wine journalist Britta Wiegelmann and cameraman Felix Groteloh to experience the winery and the family at first hand. Araceli and Javier Servera Ribas, the brother and sister team behind the wines, tell us how the oldest existing winery on the island survived phylloxera, why they love their local grape, the Mantonegro, so much and what the sea has to do with it all.