Cascina Vano — New Wines from Piemonte, Italy

Cascina (ka-shee-nah) Vano are an historic family-run winery nestled in the heart of the Langhe wine region, Piedmont, Italy. Since 1880, the Rivetti family – now led by fourth-generation winemakers Beatrice, and Marco – has cultivated 15 hectares of organically farmed vineyards with unwavering respect for nature. Their primary cellar is in Neive, complemented by prime vineyard locations in parts of Barbaresco, Santo Stefano Belbo, Mango, and Neviglie.

Cascina Vano became a full bottling winery in the late 1960s, a testament to their dedication to quality winemaking. Today, they are celebrated for their exceptional range of traditional Piedmontese wines. Including a very traditional take on Moscato d’Asti, a brilliant and unique Langhe Nebbiolo, and recently, some of the most acclaimed Barbaresco DOCG (including the future classic “Rivetti” Riserva). Each wine beautifully expresses the unique Piedmont terroir. As a smaller, high-quality producer, Cascina Vano truly stands out as a hidden gem winery for those seeking authentic Italian wine experiences.

Moscato d’Asti DOCG 2025 “Alla Maestra” Cascina Vano, Cert. Organic £15.95

A wonderful Moscato d’Asti DOCG here from Beatrice and Marco at Cascina Vano. Not that the wine is marketed as such, but it is 100% from a single, old-vine vineyard that was ‘brought’ into the family’s holdings when Beatrice and Marco’s Grandmother married into the family Rivetti. The old-vine vineyard is in the heart of the Santo Stefano Belbo region where her family originate – the heart and soul of real Moscato d’Asti production.

Floral, fresh, honeyed and beautifully balanced. Elderflower leads into orange blossom, lavender, honey, melon, peach, pink grapefruit and a gentle, gentle fizz dazzle you into submission. Serious quality here for the price.

The style of “Alla Maestra” is really traditional, Beatrice and Marco’s Grandmother’s family and many generations before had been using the ‘bag method’ or ‘bag filter’ to make the Moscato in Valdivilla (hamlet of Santo Stefano Belbo). Valdivilla (along with Santo Stefano Belbo, Calosso, Mango and Camo) is considered to be the original heartland of Moscato production in the region. Beatrice and Marco’s idea is to keep the tradition of the style of these wines even if they are no longer using the bag method. Pressure reached in the juice whilst fermentation is halted at 5.5% abv is 1.2 bar. They are keeping real freshness in the wine with a nice acidity and only a delicate ‘perlage’ (fizz) in amongst the sweet honey notes and all manner of fruits and flowers. Beatrice & Marco also feel this style opens up more options at the table – including savoury and umami matches as well as the classic fruit and sweet dishes.

The Grandmother was known as a beloved teacher to many in this area and surrounding villages, hence the dedicated name “Alla Maestra” meaning “For the teacher”. It seems in the case of this Moscato, Marco & Beatrice are our teachers too. Teachers of this wonderful, traditional style of Moscato d’Asti. Enjoy the lesson.

Langhe Nebbiolo DOC 2024 Cascina Vano, Cert. Organic £24.95

A beautiful Langhe Nebbiolo that is ‘Pinot-like’ in style.

The 2024 sees grapes from three different estate vineyards. Half of the blend is from a vineyard (located in the middle of a hazelnut grove) in Neviglie, a tiny village in Alta Langa at higher altitude (400-450m), and with a different microclimate than Neive (a lot more wind along with cooler temperatures). This site gives the wine its lifted, floral and fresh characters and fine acids.

30% of the blend comes from younger vines in the Rivetti MGA, where there is solid compact red clay together with the Sant’Agata marls, these provide characterful structure and tannins in the wine.

Finally, 20% from a vineyard in the Basarin MGA. A young vineyard of six years that is beautifully exposed over Rabaja MGA. Here we have a sandy red soil of laminated marls. This site brings a lot of pure, juicy, fruity notes – beautiful cherry and wild strawberry.

The blend of the above three sites all adds up to a vibrant, brilliant and true take on Langhe Nebbiolo. Simply amazing aromatics – sweet and pure red fruit, but floral – rosehip and violet and old school dustiness. The palate is SO full of tart red berries – crunchy, crunchy cherry, and a hint of blood orange. A clean, savoury minerality and a touch of earthiness/goodness. So drinkable, but so spiky with amazing acid/tannin intensity whilst remaining drinkable, complex and so, so lovely.

Again, a beautiful style of Langhe Nebbiolo that is simply so right for this spring and summer.

Barbaresco DOCG 2021 Cascina Vano, Cert. Organic £34.95

The ‘Classico’ label at Cascina Vano makes a very welcome return in the incredible 2021 vintage after being rested since the 1990 version. I mean, this is immense for the price considering Piemonte prices these days – where most new growers Langhe Nebbiolo are hitting the shelves around the £40 mark.

Here we have three established (all vines 30yrs plus) estate vineyards, a south-east facing site in Canova MGA and a small south-east facing parcel near the top of the crest of Rivetti MGA and a slightly larger south-west facing parcel the other side of the hill finishing just above Borgata Rivetti. So, an interesting blend of very good vineyards in an as mentioned incredible vintage that is poised, direct, elegant and shining bright at well under forty quid – aren’t we lucky?

The vineyard sites average an elevation of 380m. In 2021 the grapes were harvested by hand in very late September into the first week of October. After destemming and a soft crushing, a natural fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures. The wine is macerated on skins for 15 days. It is then run to 20 and 30hl Slavonian oak barrels for 24 months, with one decanting and racking per year. The wine is then put to bottle for at least six months. We’ve shipped these bottles a further two years down the line and the wine is in beautiful shape. A beautiful garnet colour with hints of burgundy and ruby. The nose is delicate and floral with lovely rose notes along with some mint and balsamic. The palate is classic and elegant with gorgeous pure fruit, beautiful acid, divine tannins and some spice and herbal notes on the charming long finish.

Simply a great example to convince those of the beauty and value of Barbaresco wines.

Barbaresco DOCG Rivetti Riserva 2021 ‘Il Pilone’  Cascina Vano, Cert. Organic £46.95

An utterly outstanding Riserva Barbaresco from this most exciting of Domaines in Nieve.

Rivetti is a small MGA in the north-west of Barbaresco DOCG. The family’s vineyard there is one of their most beautiful. The vineyard is exposed to the south-east and south-west, as it rides over the highest ridge. The elevation here is 350m and the soils are clay. The vines used in the Riserva are always the vineyards oldest, at forty years plus in age.

In 2021 the grapes were hand harvested in the second week of October at perfect maturity in this great season. After destemming the grapes were softly crushed and natural fermentation started in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures between 25-28 degrees. Maceration on skins for three weeks with racking and returning the juice over the must twice a day to perfectly extract from this great harvest. The wine is then put to 20 and 30hl Slavonian oak barrels for three years. Then stored in bottle for at least ten months before release.

This is the fourth release since the debut 2015 (2016 and 2019 released also). It is outstanding, really putting Rivetti MGA on the map like never before. In the glass the colour is quite a deep ruby red with orange hues. The nose is a real “Wow!” being both ethereal and intense. The palate is deeply flavoured and beautifully proportioned. It really is only just starting to reveal itself. If drinking now, you need a decanter, a large glass and a very good friend to share it with. We believe the wine shall really start coming into its own in 2030 and drink until 2050++.