Winebow Producer Book

Piemonte , Italy

Winery Overview Roberto and Gianni Voerzio, inherited their holdings from their father Gianni, who bottled wines under his own name until the early 1980s. Today, they make wines separately a few hundred yards apart, with Roberto and his wife operating six plots of Barolo vines in La Morra. Roberto’s path to success is based on what are considered to be the lowest yields of fruit in the Barolo zone. Production is very limited and the winery makes less than 4,000 cases per vintage, which equals less than one bottle per vine. He’s a modernist to the extent that he fashions his wine away from the traditional tannic Barolo style, not overly extracted and oaky. Location of Vineyards Roberto manages 21 acres of vineyards in La Morra, an area renowned for producing the most approachable, supple Barolos including six different plots – Sarmassa di Barolo, Pozzo dell’Anunziata, La Serra, Brunate, Cerequio and Capalot (the oldest, boasting 50 year old vines). Winemaking Philosophy From 1988 to 1995, Voerzio utilized a combination of barriques and midsized barrels, a protocol that tacitly integrates modernity and tradition. Interestingly, Voerzio doesn’t regard this stage as one he’s moved on from; rather, he has expressed a desire to reinstate this approach but is hesitant to do so for fear of alienating a significant proportion of modern wine drinkers. Winery Overview The purity and clarity of the wines produced by the La Marchesa winery are a testament to their philosophy to produce the best wines their specialized terroir can offer. Here, in the southeastern corner of Piemonte, the crisp, refreshing styles of wine have more to do with those of nearby Liguria than the more robust, earthy wines of classic Piemonte regions. At La Marchesa, the emphasis is on the work in the vineyards, using as little intervention as possible while employing sustainable agriculture. The resulting wines are elegant yet refreshing, providing great value for this category. Location of Vineyards The estate, located in the most important area of Gavi, covers 190 acres, of which 145 are planted with Cortese, Chardonnay, Merlot, Barbera and Albarossa vines. A new winery equipped with the latest in modern winemaking equipment blends perfectly with the architecture of the old villa. The old villa cellar has also been maintained in the historic home, preserving a history of winemaking tradition. The La Marchesa wines are greatly influenced by two important elements - clay and limestone soil and the Mediterranean climate, tempered by breezes that pass the Apennine Mountains. Winemaking Philosophy La Marchesa is highly regarded for implementing natural practices in both the vineyard and winery, tending to the land with bio-organic treatments and minimal intervention. They employ the best blend of tradition and innovation, close proximity between estate vineyards and the winemaking facilities allows for immediate processing of fruit, leading to bright style and signature character. Piemonte , Italy