Monchiero Carbone Pelisa Barbera 2013

Located in Canale, in the heart of the Roero DOCG in Langhe, the Monchiero Carbone winery was established in 1990 with the goal of reuniting vineyards owned by two branches of a family (Monchiero and Carbone) with winemaking tradition dating back to 1918. Today it is owned and operated by husband and wife, Francesco and Lucrezia Monchiero, who specialize in creating Arneis from the best vineyards in the Roero zone. On the label, as a constant reminder of their family’s history in the area and the traditions they seek to uphold, the Monchieros have added the phrase (from local dialect) “Ogni uss a l’ha so tanbuss” – “Every door has its knocker.” The inspiration behind the Monchiero Carbone winery can be traced back to the generations of both families who earned their livelihood as vine-growers. On the Monchiero side, maternal grandmother, Clotilde Valente, used her wedding dowry to purchase the Monbirone vineyard, dedicating her life to harvesting its vines. In the early 1900s, Enrico Carbone (nicknamed Ricù) married Lucia Gioetti, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy tenant farmer. Known as “the blonde”, Lucia brought with her a dowry that was also used to purchase land. Ricù immediately planted a vineyard of Arneis on the plot acquired on Tanon hill (Tanùn in the local dialect), and began to produce a sweet white wine often served on celebratory occasions. While they are not the only events leading to the creation of Monchiero Carbone, they are the most significant turning points in the family history.

All Monchiero Carbone vineyards are located within the Roero zone. The village of Canale in Roero is located to the North and west of Barolo and Barbaresco, land separated by the Tanaro River. Two historical vineyards which comprise the foundation of the Monchiero Carbone estate are located within the Canale area: Monbirone - with its hard and limey almost chalky soil, where mere drops of water cause the ground to become as slippery as soap, and Tanon - the light, dry, sandy soil, which seems almost specifically designed to showcase the fragrance and appeal of Arneis, is as warm and friendly as the Carbone family itself. Recently added to the estate are young vineyards in the Priocca area, located closer to the Tanaro River. On this gently sloping hill, surrounded with wild chamomile, are young vineyards with sandy soils that are rich with magnesium, resulting in fruit driven wines with firm minerality.

Together, Francesco and Lucrezia demonstrate a dynamic, energetic approach to winemaking, often hailed as a breath of fresh air amid more traditional producers of the region. All wines are estate bottled in an effort to raise awareness of the quality of small volume production and diversity capable of stirring a drinker’s emotions. Their philosophy is to respect the origins of the land, cherishing its well-being to provide their vines with the correct natural nourishment, ultimately allowing them to yield just the right amount of well-concentrated fruit. While Arneis is the hallmark of the Monchiero Carbone winery, high quality Barbera and Nebbiolo are produced here as well.