Winemaker Notes
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The Marchesi Incisa della Rochetta Family has roots over 1000 years in Piemonte area. Involved in wine growing and vineyards for the last several centuries, their first cousins famously moved down the road to Tuscany to found and promote Sassacaia wines. The Piemonte clan stayed true to the roots of producing indigenous grapes of Barbera, Grignolino, Moscato d'Asti and Arneis, as well as a rich history with International varietals Pinot Noir & Merlot. Leopoldo Incisa was one of the first wine scientists in the late 1850’s who brought Pinot Noir vines from Burgundy to Piedmont and began to cultivate them on the hillside of his Rocchetta Tanaro vineyards.
Even to this day, the Roero folklore lives on about witchcraft lurking behind its dramatic contours and obscure woods—but these stories only add to the region’s allure and charm. Actually today Roero winemakers are some of the most astute and motivated in Piedmont. While the white Arneis has attracted global attention for some time, now Roero Nebbiolo wines (elevated to the same DOCG status as Barolo and Barbaresco) are making a name for themselves. Keep an eye on any labeled with the vineyard, Valmaggiore, as Barolo producers have been investing here for years. If you’re looking for hidden gems, this is your region!
Yielding a dry and subtly scented wine, Arneis is the star white grape of Piedmont. Though the grape has been local to Roero since the 1400s, it didn’t experience real popularity until the 1980s when local demand for white wine exploded. Somm Secret—A few key Roero producers are also focusing on exploring the ageability of high quality Arneis. It is only grown outside of Piedmont to a very limited extent.