2021 Rivetto Nebbiolo, Langhe, Piedmont, Italy

ABOUT THIS WINE

This Nebbiolo, topped with 5 percent Barbera, comes from a west facing vineyard planted 340-400m on clay and limestone at the top of Lirano Hill, between Sinio and Serralunga d’Alba. This was native fermented in stainless steel. Aging took place in large, used Slavonian oak barrels for 12 months.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Enrico Rivetto is the fourth generation to steward the land his family purchased atop Piemonte’s Lirano hill. Lirano strides the border between Barolo, Serralunga d’Alba, and Sinio. His great grandfather started the winery in 1902, at 400m in altitude, on Serralunga’s calcareous clay and marl soils. The estate covers 50 rolling hectares, with 15 hectares devoted to vines, 6 hectares of woodlands, 6 hectares of nut trees, and 1 hectare to other crops. In a time when prime vineyard land is at a premium in Piemonte, Enrico has scrubbed up some of his vines to make room for fruit trees, cover crops, and biological corridors for beneficial insects. To hear the youthful, travelled, studied and passionate Enrico describe his goals, he speaks of creating a balanced ecosystem, moving beyond biodynamics to biodiversity. To date, he has planted more than 300 trees, over 100 vines of ancient, resistant varieties, planted aromatic herbs, sewn wheat, built a biodynamic greenhouse, created a contained compost, and will be introducing donkeys and apiaries in the near future.