Description
Still red from Piedmont, 13.5% ABV, produced by Le Piane. Blend: 50% Nebbiolo, 40% Croatina, 5% Uva Rara, 5% Vespolina. 0.75L bottle, 2022 vintage. A wine born from a passion for Novara's winemaking tradition, with a centuries-old "Maggiorina" training system. Fermentation and maceration on the skins for 5-6 days in open or closed 20hl stainless steel vats with pumping over three times a day. After pressing, the wine ages in stainless steel vats for a year, followed by bottling. A tribute to the history and dedication of those who cultivated these lands.
Pairings
- Start up year: 1998
- Oenologist: Christoph Künzli
- Bottles produced: 70.000
- Hectares: 10
In the nineties, the vinologist Alexander Trolf and the vintner Christoph Künzli showed enthusiasm for the forgotten wine region of Boca and its great wines. They were convinced that this would be the right place for a high-class wine property. At that time they became acquainted to Antonio Cerri, one of the last wine- growers to produce the typical and outstanding Boca wine. His vineyard »Campo delle Piane«, with an area of 0.6 hectares, was situated above the village and meanwhile had been surrounded by a forest. Cerri produced approx. 2'500 litres of wine every year, until 1991. The site is planted with Spanna grapes, aged more than 50 years.
In view of his advanced age of more than 80 years, Antonio Cerri decided to retire, and he offered to sell his vineyard to Alexander Trolf and Christoph Künzli. They took their chance and step-by-step they acquired further small plots. Like a puzzle the property grew together and became the new wine property »Le Piane« with a vineyard area of 6.5 hectares with a possibility for extensions.
The purchased grounds were cleared and newly terraced, in cooperation with the authorities of the nearby natural reserve of Monte Fenera. The restored vineyard areas were planted with Nebbiolo vines and other vines specific to the region.
Unfortunately Alexander Trolf did not live to see this successful development of the vineyard as he died in a tragic road accident His ideas and dreams however will remain in the vineyard »Meridiana« which he replanted. The prominent yellow house therein has become the society's logo and thus symbolizes the new beginning. Read more
| Name | Le Piane La Maggiorina 2022 |
|---|---|
| Type | Red still |
| Denomination | VdT |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 50% Nebbiolo, 40% Croatina, 5% Uva Rara, 5% Vespolina |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Piedmont |
| Vendor | Le Piane |
| Story | This ancient millenary heritage of Novara's viticulture is kept alive here, probably dating back to before the Romans, a system of planting that is found in Pliny the Elder's "Storia naturalis" (23-79 AD). The traditional 'Maggiorina' system was for hundreds of years the only known way of cultivation: three vines spread out at the four cardinal points forming the 'Maggiorino' square. All the vines that survived the collapse of the 1950s, planted between 1910 and 1920 (post phylloxera) are still productive and in good health today, their fruit is of great quality even if small in quantity. Over the centuries there have been various modifications, in Roman times the trees were used to support the vines, today chestnut poles gathered from the surrounding woods. The most recent modification by the architect Antonelli, designer of the Mole Antonelliana, the Boca Sanctuary and the San Gaudenzio Dome, was to span the poles outwards to create a counterweight to the weight of the grapes. The combination of these variations in the layout made it perfect for manual labour. Past generations have left us this sustainable legacy that is kept healthy. Pruning away from the roots prevents pathogens from attacking them, the old shoots, which need at least 5 years to renew themselves, restrain the vigour of the plant by putting leaf and fruit in perfect harmony, the sun reaches the leaves at every point and the plant by its construction is also partially protected from hailstorms. Today, the Maggiorina teaches us that, despite the fact that modern agriculture considers it an obsolete system, we can also work rows of vines manually, preserving the historicity of those who have worked for the beautiful reality of these hillsides. |
| Origin | Vineyards in the commune of Boca and Prato Sesia |
| Climate | Altitude: 400 - 450 m. a.s.l. |
| Cultivation system | Breeding "Maggiorina", old system that can only be worked by hand because it cannot be traversed by machines. |
| Yield per hectare | 50 quintals |
| Harvest | early October. |
| Production technique | Fermentation and maceration on the skins 5-6 days in open or closed 20hl stainless steel vats with pumping over 3 times a day. |
| Wine making | After pressing permanence in steel vats for one year, after bottling. |
| Total acidity | 5.5 gr/L |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |

