Cascina Lieto Rosso Frizzante Croché 2022

Cascina Lieto is a boutique winery established in 2018 by Japanese couple Hiroto and Rie Sasaki in the picturesque hills of Castiglione Tinella, nestled between Asti and the renowned Langhe region in Piemonte, Italy. Hiroto brings extensive wine industry experience, having lived in Italy since 1997, first in Rome until 2016 before settling in Piemonte to pursue his winemaking dreams alongside Rie.

The couple acquired an old winery with historic Moscato vineyards, transforming it into their intimate production facility. Their estate encompasses approximately one hectare of owned vineyards, supplemented by rented plots in Madonna di Como, south of Castiglione Tinella. These vineyards cultivate traditional Piemontese varieties including Freisa, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Cortese, and Moscato, reflecting the region's rich viticultural heritage.

Cascina Lieto's production philosophy centers on quality over quantity, with their inaugural 2018 vintage yielding merely 600 bottles. This microscopic scale allows for meticulous attention to detail throughout the winemaking process. While they aspire to eventually produce 10,000 bottles annually, expansion remains gradual, constrained by cellar capacity and their commitment to excellence.

The winery's approach emphasizes natural winemaking techniques with minimal intervention. All wines undergo a minimum two-year bottle aging before release, allowing proper development and complexity. Hiroto's philosophy focuses on harvesting perfectly ripe grapes to achieve optimal balance and concentration.

Despite their small scale, Cascina Lieto has gained recognition for producing serious Piemontese wines characterized by deep aromatic complexity and remarkable drinkability. Their portfolio includes both traditional and innovative interpretations of classic regional styles, showcasing the unique perspective these Japanese vignerons bring to Italian winemaking while respecting local traditions and terroir expression.

Piedmont, Italy's northwestern wine region, stands as one of the world's most prestigious viticultural areas, renowned for producing exceptional red wines from indigenous grape varieties. Located at the foot of the Alps, Piedmont translates to "foot of the mountain," perfectly describing this stunning landscape of rolling hills, medieval castles, and meticulously maintained vineyards that stretch across 16,500 hectares of DOC and DOCG classified land.

The region's crown jewels are Barolo and Barbaresco, both crafted exclusively from Nebbiolo grapes. These powerful, complex wines showcase the grape's signature "tar and roses" aromatics, developing incredible depth and elegance through extended aging in large oak casks. Barolo, often called the "King of Wines," requires minimum three years aging and can cellar for decades, while Barbaresco offers a more approachable yet equally sophisticated expression of Nebbiolo's potential.

Beyond Nebbiolo, Piedmont excels with Barbera and Dolcetto, two native varieties that form the backbone of everyday drinking. Barbera d'Alba and Barbera d'Asti produce wines with bright acidity and cherry flavors, while Dolcetto offers soft, immediately enjoyable reds perfect for casual dining. The region also produces exceptional white wines, particularly from Arneis in Roero and Cortese in Gavi, alongside sparkling wines from traditional grape varieties.

Piedmont's terroir combines continental climate with diverse soil types, from calcareous clay in Barolo's eastern communes to sandy limestone in the west. The region's eleven DOCG designations and forty-two DOC zones reflect this geological diversity, with each area expressing unique characteristics in the wines. Key wine-producing areas include the Langhe hills surrounding Alba, the Roero district, and Monferrato's rolling countryside.

The winemaking philosophy emphasizes tradition and terroir expression, with many producers employing large Slavonian oak botti for aging rather than small French barriques. This approach preserves the wines' authentic character while allowing slow, elegant development. Modern techniques complement traditional methods, ensuring consistent quality while respecting ancestral practices.

Piedmont wine tourism thrives year-round, with the autumn truffle season and spring vineyard visits being particularly popular. The region's exceptional cuisine, featuring white truffles, agnolotti pasta, and brasato al Barolo, creates perfect pairings with local wines.