"Birds of a feather flock together"… And from this fusion of talent, passion, and shared roots emerged Colombera & Garella, a venture that now shines amidst the mists of the Alto Piemonte (Italy). Three names, three paths that intersect almost by fate: Carlo Colombera, his son Giacomo, and the young oenologist Cristiano Garella.
It all began in 1992, when Carlo acquired the ancient Cascina Cottignano, in the small village of Masserano, in the Coste della Sesia region. At that time, viticulture in the area was little more than a romantic memory of better days. And although the abandonment wasn't due to a lack of quality, the 20th century brought with it the rural exodus of young people heading to Turin in search of factories and a future.
However, Carlo Colombera arrived in the land when few believed in it. His son Giacomo trained as an oenologist in Alba. Meanwhile, Cristiano Garella—a precocious oenologist with infectious energy—was gaining experience throughout the region. The friendship between Giacomo and Cristiano ultimately became the spark that ignited the revival of the family project. Together, with Carlo, they founded Colombera & Garella, a winery that honours the past but looks to the future with authenticity and without pretension.
One of the most exquisite fruits of this collaboration is Colombera & Garella Melascone, a red wine born in a forest clearing, where the vines draw from the volcanic soil and the alpine breeze. The blend is a perfectly balanced trilogy: nebbiolo, the king of Piedmont; croatina, which contributes fruit and vigour; and vespolina, the local variety that adds spice and freshness.
The grapes are harvested by hand, respecting the plant's natural rhythm. Fermentation is spontaneous, guided by the wild yeasts of the environment, in concrete vats. Then, the wine rests for 10 months in used barrels, which do not mask the character of the fruit, and finally for another 4 months in concrete, refining its expression.
The result is Colombera & Garella Melascone, a vibrant, honest wine that speaks with a mountain accent. There is no embellishment or artifice. Only the essence of a land that was almost forgotten, and which today is revived thanks to the dedication of three men who found each other at the right moment.