The Bera family's connection to the hills of Canelli began in 1785, when an ancestor purchased land from the Sovereign Order of the Knights of Malta. That land is still in production today. Alessandra and Gianluigi Bera, daughter and son of founder Vittorio, manage the estate now, carrying forward a tradition that stretches across eight generations. Vittorio, who bottled the first estate Moscato d'Asti from the property in 1964, remains a guiding presence.
Backstory
For most of its history, the Bera estate sold grapes or bulk wine, as was common across the Piedmont countryside. Vittorio's decision to bottle under his own label in 1964 was a turning point, establishing an identity that Alessandra and Gianluigi have since deepened. Alessandra left Canelli for university and a career in Brussels before the farm called her back. Gianluigi, who handles the cellar, stayed rooted in the vineyards. Together they converted to organic farming around 2000 and never looked back.
The Region
Canelli lies in the southern Asti hills, in the heart of Moscato d'Asti territory. The soils are ancient marine sediment, a mix of clay and limestone formed when this entire zone sat beneath a shallow sea five million years ago. The southeast-facing slopes maximize light while retaining the diurnal temperature swing that gives Moscato its characteristic aromatic intensity. The surrounding appellation also encompasses Barbera and Dolcetto country.
Vineyards and Farming
The estate covers 12 hectares of steep, southeast-facing vineyards, six of them planted to Moscato. Organic certification has been in place since 2000. All work in the vines is done by hand. Copper and Bordeaux mixture are the tools of disease prevention; no synthetic inputs are used. Yields are kept low to concentrate flavor and support vine health over the long term.
Winemaking
All grapes are hand-harvested. Fermentation uses no commercial inoculations; only indigenous yeasts from the vineyards initiate and complete the process. No fining and no filtering. Sulfite additions are kept minimal. Gianluigi oversees the cellar with the same respect for the natural process that guides the farming.
The Wines
Moscato d'Asti is the estate's anchor, a wine of delicate effervescence, stone fruit, and floral lift that sets the standard for the appellation. Barbera d'Asti and Dolcetto del Monferrato represent the red side of the portfolio. Arcese, a blend of Cortese, Favorita, and Arneis, rounds out the whites. Each wine reflects the particular character of Canelli's ancient marine soils and the unhurried pace of a family that has been here for over two centuries.
