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Located just 3 KM west of the town of Barbaresco is La Vedetta, a small 3.5 HA winery. While studying and working abroad, Marco Viglino watched his beloved home of the Langhe transform from a provincial community into a world-class UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wanting to ensure that his family land and vines would also remain a Home for him in is future, Marco and his partner Swantje, whom he met while abroad in Germany, returned to Tre Stella in 2016 and began La Vedetta.
- Winemaker: Marco Viglino
- Farming: Organic
- Variety: Barbera
- Terroir: Sarasino vineyard
- Vinification: Hand-harvested, Stainless steel fermented.
- Aging: Aged only in stainless steel for 5 months
From our February 2024 Bottle Cult Release:
La Vedetta ‘Sarasino’ Barbera d'Asti Superiore, Piedmont, Italy 2018
I Love Barbera! Given my East Coast roots, I’m always looking for a classic red-sauce pairing, and one of my faaaaaavorite go-to’s is Barbera. Brambly, juicy, a little tannic, and with loads of thirst-quenching acidity, this punchy red grape has a long and slightly convoluted history in Italy. While it has been synonymous with the hills of Monferrato, Piemonte since the 19th century, DNA analysis has shown that the grape has little in common genetically with other grapes native to Northwestern Italy. This suggests that Barbera was likely introduced to the region at some unknown point. However, after phylloxera decimated the Piemontese vineyards in the early 20th Century, Barbera quickly became an exceedingly popular grape within the region. Farmers were desperate for their vines to recover, and Barbera is a relatively productive plant that can be used to make a variety of styles, ranging from sparkling to sweet, and light-bodied to full-bodied.
Barbera, Italy's third most planted red grape, thrives in Piedmont, where entire appellations like Barbera d’Asti DOCG, Barbera d’Alba DOC, and Barbera di Monferrato DOC revolve around it. While Monferrato and Alba produce exceptional wines, Asti growers champion their Barbera as superior, reserving prime vineyard sites exclusively for it. La Vedetta, a small 3.5 HA winery, lies just 3 KM west of Barbaresco. Founded by Marco Viglino and Swantje, it embodies a commitment to preserving Langhe's heritage. Marco's vision stemmed from witnessing Langhe's evolution into a UNESCO World Heritage Site, prompting his return to Tre Stella in 2016 to establish La Vedetta.
Not bound by the burden of a ‘Legacy’, as Marco says, the young couple is free to make wine however they want. While their organic winery focuses mainly on Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Marco, and Swantje also leaves room for Barbera and Freisa, two lesser prized but essential grapes to the region. They hold 1.5 ha of vines in Asti, on the hill of Sarasino, which runs along the Tanaro River and borders Barbaresco. The limestone and marly soils are mixed with a hefty dose of sandstone, which yields a Barbera d’Asti Superiore with bright fruit, firm structure, intense color, and delicate aromas. The wine is fermented in steel and aged in large 25-hectolitre barrels for 12 months. It’s a tangy and persistent wine, with aromas of blackberry, rose, and earthy notes of coffee and cedar. The acidity and juiciness make it a perfect food wine— like I said, you can’t go wrong with taking it to your favorite red sauce joint, so don’t over complicate it! You can drink this wine now, or store and enjoy it before 2026. Either way, definitely enjoy it with something delicious! —Simi Grewal