Albarossa: History of a Grape

Not many people know about the Albarossa grape variety. And even fewer know its history. An indigenous red grape variety from Piedmont, Albarossa was created in 1938 by the Piedmontese ampelographer and agronomist Giovanni Dalmasso, with the aim of obtaining a new grape variety that combined the qualities of Nebbiolo and Barbera. Its name was coined in homage to the Piedmontese town of Alba, where Professor Dalmasso studied.

At the time, it did not receive much attention; in fact, the ampelographic, oenological, and productive characteristics of this vine were only thoroughly investigated through subsequent studies, and it was registered in the National Register of Vine Varieties in 1977.

Further genetic studies have since shown that one of Albarossa's two parents is actually not Nebbiolo, but Chatus, also known as Nebbiolo di Dronero, named after the alpine municipality in the province of Cuneo. It is believed that there was an error during pollination, perhaps due to the similarity between the names of these two grape varieties.

Precisely thanks to the union of these two grape varieties, Albarossa produces a wine of great personality, with a deep color and fruity notes that blend with spices and toasted hints. A wine with excellent aging potential and great versatility in gastronomy.

It was our oenologist, Patrizia Marenco, who, also participating in the studies, planted one of the first Albarossa vineyards in Piedmont in 2001. Year after year, this vineyard at the top of the hill gives us great satisfaction and emotions, a place from which we observe sunsets and red sunrises, season after season.