Old vineyards & Piedmont-native grapes
Rocco di Carpeneto is a radical, organic winery located on a small plateau amidst the Upper Monferrato hills (Piedmont), very close to Mediterranean sea. Wine production is strictly devoted to Piedmont-native grapes (cortese, moscato, barbera, dolcetto, freisa, albarossa, nebbiolo) grown in old vineyards — mostly planted between 1955 and 1986. We also manage a couple of vineyards in Liguria, near the famous Cinque Terre area (with albarola, bosco and vermentino grapes).
We are proud VinNatur member.
We are proud VinNatur member.
Beyond the wine, a life choice: get back to nature
Rocco di Carpeneto project was born in 2008-2009, as a result of a radical life change decision: we left Milan (we are not from Milan, anyway: Lidia comes from Rome, Paolo from Garda Lake, with deep roots in Veneto) walking off previous job together, with the idea to get back to nature -not only due to a shared wine passion: that’s why we feel like we have nothing in common with the conventional wine world.
Making radical wines by using really minimal intervention in old vineyards primarily means for us an ethical choice, based on the refusal of usual clichés: that implies a different, non-dominant relationship with nature. We draw inspiration from the “do nothing farming” (or “less is more”) approach -even if we are not at all interested in following doctrines: direct observation is worth much more than any packaged theory.
Making radical wines by using really minimal intervention in old vineyards primarily means for us an ethical choice, based on the refusal of usual clichés: that implies a different, non-dominant relationship with nature. We draw inspiration from the “do nothing farming” (or “less is more”) approach -even if we are not at all interested in following doctrines: direct observation is worth much more than any packaged theory.
Sun, earth and our own passion only
Rocco di Carpeneto wines are made up with sun, earth and our own passion only, in adherence to Upper Monferrato nature's pace. Vineyards are organically treated with very limited quantities of copper and sulphur, and managed with permanent spontaneous grassing. Grapes are rigorously handpicked in small crates. The “do nothing farming” principles are our true inspiration.
All the fermentations are spontaneous, of course, with wild yeasts only: wines are not filtered, fined or clarified, and grape is the sole ingredient used (that means they are zero-zero wines).
All the fermentations are spontaneous, of course, with wild yeasts only: wines are not filtered, fined or clarified, and grape is the sole ingredient used (that means they are zero-zero wines).
The roots of a name
«Rocch is the name of a hamlet in Carpeneto d'Acqui, used since 1458 and even before, when St. Rocco's worship simply did not exist.
In rucchis et spissis communis Carpeneti, nemo audeat incidere aut incidi facere dice una rubrica. Horri in basco vale spina, ed orrok spineto.
We read in the local middle-age Municipality by-laws. Horri is "thorn" in Basque language, and orrok is "thorn bush". The nearby zone, now covered by vineyards, was once a thorn bush close to the borders with Alessandria. Here is a word -maybe- from the ancient, unknown Ligurian language».
G. Ferraro, Glossario monferrino, Torino, 1889 2a ed., p.94
In rucchis et spissis communis Carpeneti, nemo audeat incidere aut incidi facere dice una rubrica. Horri in basco vale spina, ed orrok spineto.
We read in the local middle-age Municipality by-laws. Horri is "thorn" in Basque language, and orrok is "thorn bush". The nearby zone, now covered by vineyards, was once a thorn bush close to the borders with Alessandria. Here is a word -maybe- from the ancient, unknown Ligurian language».
G. Ferraro, Glossario monferrino, Torino, 1889 2a ed., p.94
A long history of suitable terroir
Rocco di Carpeneto vineyards lie close to the border with Rocca Grimalda village, on a small plateau gently shaped by small valleys at 270 mt above sea level. All the zone has been since long time devoted to the viticolture: «the countryside around Ovada is covered by vineyards (...) the soil is quite low-fertile and windblown by sea-breezes but, diligently farmed, easily becomes fruitful. Grapes are its main product: well-made and aged wines could compete with famous French ones (...).».
G. Casalisi, Dizionario geografico storico-statistico-commerciale degli Stati di S.M. il Re di Sardegna, Torino, 1845, vol. XIII, voce Ovada, pp. 720-722
G. Casalisi, Dizionario geografico storico-statistico-commerciale degli Stati di S.M. il Re di Sardegna, Torino, 1845, vol. XIII, voce Ovada, pp. 720-722
