Giuseppe Mascarello Barbera d' Alba DOC Vigna Santo Stefano di Perno

“Only the memory of the past can open the way to the future.” And only if the tree has deep roots can it continue to grow. Etched into their minds, this phrase is without doubt the premise and philosophy of the Mascarello’s, a family traditionally dedicated to wine. Wine has always guided their steps, and they have always had a vine in their hand.

Although at the beginning of the 20th century they ventured into other businesses (like building materials) the vineyard has always taken priority in the life of the Mascarello family. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. That, and they don’t seem to know how to live any other way since 1881, when Giuseppe Mascarello bought a piece of land in the village of Monforte d'Alba, in northern Italy, in the Pian della Polvere region. Little by little the story has unfolded. The business has survived to the present day as Azienda Agricola Giuseppe Mascarello e Figlio, but not before a reconstruction by Mauro Mascarello (the latest generation). And thanks to him we can continue to enjoy wines like Giuseppe Mascarello Barbera d' Alba DOC Vigna Santo Stefano di Perno.

Giuseppe Mascarello Barbera d' Alba DOC Vigna Santo Stefano di Perno is a red wine produced in the vineyards that the winery owns in the hamlet of Perno, in Monforte d'Alba, in the Piedmont province of Cuneo. This land, barely two hectares in size, has been owned by the family since 1989. Lying 300 metres above sea level, this is a plot with a mixture of sandy and clay soils, with limestone and grey sands of marine origin. Barbera is not the only crop grown here. There is also room for other varieties like Nebbiolo and Dolcetto. All of them are meticulously cared for, putting into practice century-old techniques and workmanship (typical of the family) that are totally respectful of the environment. The use of pesticides is highly regulated, and only when necessary, weeding is done mechanically (with the help of a hoe) and fertilisers are totally organic and natural. All these principles also mean that the grapes are harvested by hand, very thoroughly, selecting the grapes in the vineyard berry by berry.

In the winery, Giuseppe Mascarello Barbera d' Alba DOC Vigna Santo Stefano di Perno is processed and placed in fermentation tanks where it will gradually turn into wine over a period of about 20 days. After this, Giuseppe Mascarello Barbera d' Alba DOC Vigna Santo Stefano di Perno is devatted and racked into oak barrels where it spends a long period of time resting. Finally, Giuseppe Mascarello Barbera d' Alba DOC Vigna Santo Stefano di Perno is bottled and released for sale, winning over most who take a sip. A great red wine from northern Italy that you can’t miss.