Maurizio Ferraro #SecondoMe Vino Bianco 2022

Maurizio Ferraro's winery's history began in 1819 with the barter of a donkey for a vineyard by Maurizio’s homonymous great-great-great-grandfather (not swearing on the correctness of the number of greats). Maurizio, having taken the reins from his father in the late ’90s, begins approaching organic farming and winemaking in 2000 and completes the leap to fully natural ways in 2006.

Nestled on the rugged yet enchanting hills near Montemagno in the Monferrato in Piedmont, Maurizio’s vineyards see lovingly cultivated the traditional local varieties of Barbera, Ruchè, Nebbiolo and Grignolino for red and Timorasso and Chardonnay (long since naturalized) for white. No chemicals or irrigation in the vineyards, in the cellar only wild fermentation, no temperature control nor additives of any sort nor any added SO2. Vibrant, living wines that change with each vintage (along with their labels) and always full of character.

Piedmont, or Piemonte as it's known in Italian, is often hailed as the "Burgundy of Italy" by wine enthusiasts. This esteemed wine-producing region sits in Italy's northwestern corner, nestled at the base of the mountains. Surrounded by France to the west, Valle d'Aosta northwest, Lombardy east, and Liguria south, Piedmont is also home to Turin, its capital and largest city.

A standout feature of Piedmont, much like Veneto, is its rich tapestry of indigenous grape varieties. These varietals create a diverse range of unique and exceptional wines. A key aspect of Piedmont's traditional winemaking is the practice of using single grape varieties, and avoiding blends, which highlights the region's dedication to showcasing individual grape characteristics.

Piedmont's comparison to Burgundy stems from several crucial factors. Firstly, there's a strong emphasis on quality over quantity, with many wineries being small, family-owned, and harmoniously integrated with their natural surroundings. This focus aligns perfectly with the principles of natural wine production.

Secondly, the region adopts a terroir-driven approach to viticulture and winemaking. Vineyards are meticulously divided into cru (or zonazione in Italian), each producing wines with distinct and specific characteristics.

Lastly, the renowned Nebbiolo grape, a staple of Piedmont and globally celebrated, is treated similarly to Burgundy's Pinot Noir. Notably, Nebbiolo wines are never blended.