Few names carry as much weight in Italian natural wine as Stefano Bellotti. From a single hectare he planted as a teenager, he built a self-sufficient farm that became a reference point for an entire generation of growers.
Backstory
The Bellotti family has held land at Novi Ligure, in the province of Alessandria, since 1930. Stefano Bellotti began his life as a vigneron in 1977 with one hectare of vines. He converted to organic farming almost immediately and brought biodynamics into the estate in 1984, well ahead of his time. Bellotti died in 2018. The farm is now run by his daughter, Ilaria Bellotti, who continues the project he created.
The Region
The estate sits at Novi Ligure, on the border between Piedmont and Liguria, in the Gavi growing area. Soils are largely clay, with limestone richness and some parcels of iron-rich red clay.
Vineyards and Farming
Cascina degli Ulivi farms its vineyards biodynamically and works as an autarchic farm rather than a winery alone, integrating vines with fields, woods, orchards, vegetable gardens, a bakery and livestock. The chief grape is Cortese, alongside Barbera and the local Dolcetto strain known as Nibio. Fruit is hand-harvested into small crates.
Winemaking
Fermentations run with native yeasts. The wines are unfiltered, and Bellotti moved away from added sulfur, producing wines without added sulfites. Aging is carried out in large traditional barrels rather than small new oak.
The Wines
The range centers on Cortese-based whites and reds from Barbera and Nibio, including bottlings such as Filagnotti, Montemarino, Nibio and the metodo classico-style sparkling Semplicemente. They are wines built to express the living farm behind them.
