Montalbera

The Morando family has been a leading actor in the wine scenario of Monferrato and Langa for generations. The family's philosophy of production is both simple and linear: Territorial respect and value enhancement, the indissoluble link between environment, vineyard, climate and human intervention.

Rigour, planning, imagination and poetry. Loyal to its principles with wines that are made of emotions, suggestions and harmonies resulting from continuous and passionate research aimed at the appraisal of the great wines of Monferrato and Langa, Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato above all.

Wines that read life, interpret needs and desires, under the constant sign of modern productivity. Believing, thus creating elegant productions that bring with them the “terroir” to which they belong, enhancing the vineyard’s peculiarities with unique and inimitable scents and perfumes that are the expression of mysterious harmonies.

The Azienda Agricola Montalbera was founded at the beginning of the 20th century in a territory straddling the municipalities of Grana, Castagnole Monferrato and Montemagno in what was the Duchy of Monferrato, a land of great expectations and promises. Going back to the origin of the name Montalbera is no easy task, although it almost certainly refers to the trees and gentle hills typical of the land surrounding the estate. Around the mid-1980s, the Morando family, owners of the wine estate, adopted a policy of ongoing expansion with the acquisition of adjacent land and the planting of new vineyards, predominantly Ruchè. At present, Montalbera ranks amongst the most technologically advanced wineries in the world, it interprets with wisdom the "fruit" the earth offers, fully respecting local traditions that go back a thousand years. The result of the winery's growth allows us to state unequivocally that roughly 55% of the Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato and roughly 12% of the Grignolino d'Asti "produced in the world" "springs forth" from the Montalbera di Castagnole wine cellars.

Today Montalbera consists of three vineyards: the first in Castagnole Monferrato (Monferrato),145 hectares in a single lot, recognised for its production of the "Red Prince of Monferrato", the indigenous Ruché, the second in Castiglione Tinella (Langhe), in the San Carlo district - 15 hectares in a single lot under Moscato d'Asti – also the birthplace of the head of the family Enrico Riccardo Morando, and lastly the third – a three hectares acquisition of vines for “Nebbiolo da Barolo” in Castiglione Falletto – for the production of a selected Barolo label.

The winery is a somewhat rare phenomenon on the Piedmontese scene, straddling, as it does, Monferrato and the Langhe. 

A seemingly endless succession of perfectly planted rows of vines grown using the low-trained Gujot system - a fine tradition – which can be distinguished as separate vineyards only by the colouring of the leaves in autumn or by the expert winemaker’s eye. The Vineyards are all together in a single piece of land and cover four entire hills; the only free areas are at the bottom of the valley, where the winery has chosen to grow hazelnut trees.

The 145 hectares of vineyard on this plot are divided into different varieties, Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato with over 60 hectares being the most important. It stands as a veritable crown jewel of this wine estate, also the largest producer of this indigenous variety, full of great expectations. The valleys surrounding the estate are also planted with 14 hectares of Barbera d'Asti, a well-known variety typical of the Monferrato, 18 hectares of Grignolino d'Asti as well as several hectares with Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Viognier for the important production of white wines. 

The wine estate, constantly developing and expanding, owns many hectares of vineyards planted over the last two years alone; from the third year of cultivation they will supply fruit for production, thus adding to the existing crops and raising the winery’s standard from the standpoint of interest as well as rarity.

Montalbera Castagnole Monferrato is also the centre of the "wine producing cellar", site of the complete vinification as well as the bottling and final storage of all the types of wine produced. In this very place, after a complete renovation lasting three years, the "tasting room" has recently been created: an expanse of picture windows offers a superb view which spans the estate’s lake and the stupendous valley, entirely planted with Ruchè and Barbera d'Asti.

The lower floor, with its ideal temperature, has been completely given over to "barriques" for the aging of our select wines. In these exposed-brick interiors, nooks have been created where the vintages - reserved exclusively for private tastings not for sale - have been wisely placed.

The philosophy of production is that of the "wine-fruit" concept, highlighting the wonderful idiosyncrasies of the vineyards by harvesting when the fruit is slightly overripe and treating it on the vine in an attentive and particular way. "The dream of all those generations of winemakers who have gone before us is to obtain the best possible grape from the crop and transform it into wine without losing or altering the taste and aroma inherited and synthesised by nature inside the fruit, preserving every ounce of its native value". (Luca Maroni's preface to Le buone pratiche per la vinificazione e conservazione dei vini (Good practice for the vinification and conservation of wines) by Louis Oudart – first edition published in 1877 by the Reale accademia dell'agricoltura di Torino). 

While there may be revolutions and developments in enological techniques, and disappearances and rebirths as well, it must not be forgotten that the symphony of fragrances, the delightfulness of flavours, the miracle of harmonies - all requisites of a great wine - are the reward for the painstaking work on the vine and in the winery, the outstanding talent in harnessing a winemaking science blending tradition and a sense of innovation in tune with the new tastes of today’s demanding consumers.

We will never cease to be amazed by the growing number of enthusiasts and connoisseurs seduced by the delight and taste of Montalbera wines.