Winemaker: Irene ‘Nene’ Maggiorotti
Where: San Carlo, Castiglione Tinella, Langhe, Piemonte
Size: 1,5 ha
Main Varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay & Moscato
Viticulture: No chemical herbicides & fungicides
Quick note: Metodo Classico bubbles from the hills of Langhe and 480m elevation
We have had quite a long love affair with Barolo and Nebbiolo in Piemontee, but of course one can’t overlook the long legacy of Moscato in the region! So it is a joy to work with Irene, an up-and-coming star of Metodo Classico bubbles in the region.
Just south of Asti, in the hamlet of San Carlo, in Castiglione Tinella, is where Irene’s maternal grandparents settled to work their family farm, farming livestock to begin with, but then gradually shifting into producing grapes for bulk wine sales. Historically one of the most suitable areas for Moscato, the family vineyards now extend over 11,5 hectares, nearly all in the land surrounding the winery.
Irene’s mother and aunts followed in the management of the farm, and so comes Irene, she studied science at school, attended the University of Viticulture and Oenology in Alba and naturally headed overseas to work harvests, in Argentina and France. On returning to Piemonte Irene worked in a laboratory and assistant winemaker before joining the family.
All this technical training actually taught Irene that technique alone was not enough, one needed a profound connection with the land, the vines, avoiding forced constructions and allowing the wine’s free expression overall. Her own project then started, called Nene after her nickname, in 2023 with 1,5 hectares. Some of the Metodo Classico grapes come from selected growers using no systemic herbicides or pesticides, but the goal is to plant new vineyards and gradually achieve self-sufficiency.
Her first 2023 vintage included 2 Metodo Classico cuvées and a still Moscato. The sparkling will be built upon reserve wine set aside each vintage, part aged in barrique and tonneaux from Champagne, while the other is in concrete to preserve freshness and minerality. Currently Irene’s sparkling is called ‘Primo Stato’, with the ultimate goal to develop wines through varying lengths of ageing into ‘Primo Stato’, ‘Secondo Stato’ and ‘Terzo Stato’. This will also be reflected in the labels, a collaboration with artist Federica Bodda they are produced using the intaglio print technique, becoming increasingly complete and reflecting the aim for the wines themselves.
We are delighted to see the evolution of Irene and her wines, especially wines offering such freshness, elegance and bubbles to a region we know so well
