Braida

An integral part of Piedmont's wine culture and arguably one of Italy's most underrated wines with DOCG status: the distinctly sparkling Brachetto d'Acqui is a pale ruby red (with a cherry-red head). The bouquet is highly aromatic, with notes of nutmeg, rose and violets. The flavour is exceptionally elegant, reminiscent of strawberries; it is round and finely balanced between a mild sweetness and a fruity, very refreshing tartness. SUPERIORE.DE

Here comes a cheerful and lively delight for the glass and the heart: a straw-yellow sparkle with a silvery sheen and a fine, persistent effervescence. On the nose, it's a dance of fruit and florals: peach, white blossoms, rose petals, a hint of orange blossom and delicate musky notes – all fresh, playful and spicy. On the palate, it is sweet yet never heavy, with refreshing lightness, delicate acidity and a gentle aroma that swings into a soft, aromatic final. The Moscato grapes are grown in Mango d'Alba, are gently processed (including controlled fermentation in an autoclave) and undergo a short period of bottle ageing — very typical of the variety and with a refined style. Vigna Senza Nome is not a classic dessert wine, but a charming, vibrant experience – like a summery greeting from Piedmont. SUPERIORE.DE

It all began with this wine. The grapes came from Grandmother Caterina's vineyard, and Grandfather wrote "La Monella" in chalk on the liveliest barrel in the cellar – the little minx. This is how Barbera was once drunk in Monferrato: young, impetuous, with that slight effervescence that tames the acidity and makes the wine the perfect everyday companion. Ten days' maceration, four months' ageing in stainless steel, then the prise de mousse in a pressure tank.

Grignolino is one of the most underrated grape varieties in Piedmont – and Braida firmly believes in it. The name reveals where the structure comes from: "Limo" means silt, and the soil on the hills of Rocchetta Tanaro contains plenty of it. 40% silt, 30% sand and 30% clay give the wine its unmistakable backbone. The vines planted in 2010 are densely planted – 5,500 per hectare – and face south and east. Vinified exclusively in steel, four months of tank ageing and two months of bottle ageing preserve freshness and varietal character.

Nas-cëtta, also known as Anas-Cetta, is a rare, indigenous white wine variety from Piedmont that was almost forgotten. Originally native to the Novello region, it is characterised by its fine structure, aromatic complexity and good ageing potential. For Il Fiore, it is combined with 70% Chardonnay to harmonise fruit and texture. Maturation in stainless steel tanks preserves the purity of the fruit and the clear expression of its Piedmontese origins.

"We want this land to say: Barbera. We've always thought that, ever since the first vineyards that grandfather Giuseppe left to his father Giacomo, where grapes were grown for La Monella. Then the ones between Rocchetta and Belveglio (the vineyards of Bricco dell'Uccellone), which mother Anna brought as a dowry, and the vineyards of Montebruna, which we bought and merged - and which we still look at with great pride." Familie Bologna

Nascetta, indigenous to the Langhe region and particularly rooted in Novello, is considered the "forgotten queen of Piedmont's white wines". Once almost disappeared, it was revitalised by dedicated winegrowers and today shows its full potential: aromatically nuanced, elegantly matured and with natural tension. For La Regina, the grapes are carefully harvested and matured in stainless steel tanks to allow the fruit and origin to be clearly experienced. An authentic, rare white wine with character – and a shining example of the diversity of Piedmont.

It took seven years and 35 purchase agreements to bring together the scattered parcels of Montebruna. When they succeeded, the joy was so great that the Bolognas invited artists, poets and musicians to give voice and verse to this vineyard. "Una terra che parla" – a land that speaks – they called the project. And indeed, anyone who drinks Montebruna hears Rocchetta Tanaro speak. The vines are rooted in Braida's heartland, 100% Barbera from their own vineyards. Two weeks of maceration in temperature-controlled steel, then a year of ageing in large oak barrels – classic, without barrique dominance.

Riesling is a rarity in Piedmont. However, the grape variety finds ideal conditions in carefully selected, higher-lying plots: sunny days for aromatic ripeness, cool nights for acid freshness. Re di Fiori is matured in stainless steel tanks to preserve the pure fruit and fine tension of the variety. A white wine full of character that interprets the classic German grape variety in a Piedmontese style. Rare, authentic and with a subtle aristocratic flavour.

Il Bacialé – in dialect "matchmaker" – brings together grape varieties that normally rarely meet: Barbera, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The grapes come from selected plots in the heart of Monferrato, whose gentle hills give the vines warmth and depth. After fermentation, the wine matures in wood, which gives it structure, finesse and good ageing potential. A successful liaison that marries tradition and international class in a pleasing way.

When you say Braida, you mean Barbera. Ever since Giacomo Bologna proved in the 1980s that this underrated grape variety is capable of ageing in barriques and achieving world-class status, the name has come to symbolise the Piedmontese red wine revolution. Connoisseurs know that the family also produces white wines – yet La Regina, Re di Fiori and the Asso di Fiori deliberately bear a different label: Serra dei Fiori. This is the name of the vineyard near Trezzo Tinella in the Langhe, which the Bolognas acquired in 1988 together with the Giacosa brothers. A distinct terroir, a joint venture, a separate project. This makes what Giuseppe and Raffaella Bologna are now venturing all the more significant: the first white wine to bear the Braida name. Vinified not in the Langhe, but in the historic cellar at Rocchetta Tanaro – the heart of the estate. The grapes come from the Colli Tortonesi, those hills east of Alessandria, where the Timorasso variety has been rooted since the Middle Ages and was saved from extinction thanks to pioneers such as Walter Massa.

Medium golden yellow in colour with bright reflections. The Chardonnay grapes come from selected plots in the Langhe, whose later harvest gives the wine aromatic depth and a fine melting flavour. In the cellar, the wine is carefully matured according to the Burgundian school: temperature-controlled fermentation, long maturation on the fine lees, a targeted proportion in wood to promote complexity and structure without overpowering the freshness.

The Bricco della Bigotta comes from the single vineyard of the same name and owes its name to a former resident whose strict piety became proverbial in the village. The old vines stand on a hill not far from Rocchetta Tanaro, in soils of limestone, marl and clay, which give the variety a distinctive structure. The 2020 vintage was characterised by a balanced vegetation cycle: mild spring days, a warm summer without extreme heat and cool nights in late summer, which gave the grapes freshness and aromatic depth. After selective manual harvesting, a long maceration followed by 12 months of ageing in French barriques.

The wine comes from a single, gently sloping vineyard above Rocchetta Tanaro, known as Bricco dell'Uccellone, a name derived from an elderly local woman who, always dressed in black and with a keen eye, kept a watchful eye on the vineyards. Here, old vines grow on barren, chalky soils that yield low harvests but produce highly concentrated harvest. With tireless dedication, the Bologna family carries on the legacy of Giacomo Bologna, who is rightly regarded as the father of modern Barbera d'Asti. Hand-harvested, followed by a long maceration and 12 months' ageing in French barriques.

The Bolognas – pioneers of Barbera from Piedmont – have their Grappa Invecchiata di Bricco dell'Uccellone produced every year, as befits their status, by the renowned Distilleria Berta. Made from the pomace of the Bricco dell'Uccellone, distilled using the classic, batch method by the Berta grappa dynasty in Mombaruzzo, Piedmont, and matured in the very same wooden casks that previously held the coveted and avant-garde Barbera wine. Only around 4,000 bottles of this fine spirit are produced per vintage.

The wine comes from a single, gently sloping vineyard above Rocchetta Tanaro, called Bricco dell'Uccellone, named after an elderly local woman who always kept a sharp eye on the vineyards, dressed in black. Here, old vines grow on barren, chalky soils that produce low yields but highly concentrated harvest. With tireless dedication, the Bologna family fulfils the legacy of Giacomo Bologna, who is rightly described as the father of modern Barbera d'Asti. 2021 began with a cool spring, followed by a warm, stable summer that ensured slow, even ripening. The grapes were hand-picked in perfect condition, followed by a long maceration and 12 months of ageing in French barriques.

The wine comes from a single, gently sloping vineyard above Rocchetta Tanaro, known as Bricco dell'Uccellone, a name derived from an elderly local woman who, always dressed in black and with a keen eye, kept a watchful eye on the vineyards. Here, old vines grow on barren, chalky soils that yield low harvests but produce highly concentrated harvest. With tireless dedication, the Bologna family carries on the legacy of Giacomo Bologna, who is rightly regarded as the father of modern Barbera d'Asti. Hand-harvested, followed by a long maceration and 12 months' ageing in French barriques.

The Bricco della Bigotta comes from the single vineyard of the same name and owes its name to a former resident whose strict piety became proverbial in the village. The old vines stand on a hill not far from Rocchetta Tanaro, in soils of limestone, marl and clay, which give the variety a distinctive structure. The 2020 vintage was characterised by a balanced vegetation cycle: mild spring days, a warm summer without extreme heat and cool nights in late summer, which gave the grapes freshness and aromatic depth. After selective manual harvesting, a long maceration followed by 12 months of ageing in French barriques.