Marcarini

Marcarini was founded in the 1850s in the province of Cuneo. Today, the winery is owned by Manuel Marchetti and his children. Elisa, who acts as the estate’s enologist, Andrea, the sales and marketing manager, and Chiara who runs their agriturismo represent the sixth-generation of family ownership. Today, Marcarini currently has 49 acres under vine, some in historic crus, including Brunate and La Serra.

THE HISTORY

Marcarini is owned and run by Manuel Marchetti and his three children Andrea, Elisa, and Chiara, who work as a team to carry on the winemaking traditions began by their mother Luisa. The winery was originally founded by Luisa’s great-great-great-grandfather in the 1850s and in fact today, the three siblings represent the sixth generation. It is located in the heart of La Morra, a quaint hilltop village with a tiny population of 2,758. The building that houses the winery goes back to the 1700s and its cool, underground cellars provide for an ideal environment for classic élevage. Indeed, classic is a keyword in the Marcarini philosophy, which combines tradition and modernity.

Their range of Langhe classics is exquisite with its embracing style, superb longevity and that blockbuster structure Piedmont is famous for. Marcarini was among the very first in the Langhe area to designate single vineyards on its labels – as early as the 1950s. In fact, Boschi di Berri, one of its outstanding, historic vineyards is over 150 years old and planted with rare, pre- Phylloxera Dolcetto vines. All their vineyards are estate-owned, and their names alone speak volumes: “Brunate” and “La Serra” in La Morra; and “Sargentin” in Neviglie, the quintessence of Moscato country.

THE TERROIR

The exceptional vineyards are the true heart of the winery. The sought-after locations, steepness of the slopes, nature of the soils, exposure to sunlight, and unique microclimates are not only conducive to making top wines but also to maintaining non-aggressive, natural vineyard management. The total surface under vine is 49 of the estate’s 62 acres.

Brunate and La Serra have distinct microclimates, which lead to subtle differences in the wines – they both see essentially calcareous clay with a high magnesium content and enjoy mostly southern exposure. The Brunate hillside vineyards are located at about 300 meters above sea level and form a sort of amphitheater, which provides protection from severe weather and guarantees drastic diurnal temperature shifts especially near the end of ripening in October. The La Serra vineyard is just a little more elevated – 380 meters above sea level. It is not shaped like an amphitheater and has excellent exposure with equally good ventilation. The day/night temperature swings are less drastic, yet important enough to fully develop a generous range of aromas.