CAREMA “LA RUE – VIGNA ROVERA” 2023

Carema La Rue Vigna Rovera 2023 – Heroic Nebbiolo from one of Carema’s highest vineyards

Overview

The Carema La Rue Vigna Rovera 2023 is a 100% Nebbiolo wine coming from one of the highest and most extreme vineyards in the entire Carema appellation, among the most heroic expressions of Piedmont mountain viticulture. It is a rare wine, produced in extremely limited quantities, interpreting Nebbiolo in a more delicate and restrained style compared to other cuvées from the area. The aromatic profile highlights balsamic tones, freshness and floral nuances, with spice playing a softer but well-integrated role. Vinification is traditional and highly artisanal, with spontaneous fermentation and long maceration. The result is a vertical, elegant and deeply territorial wine. The wine contains sulfites.

Origin and identity of the wine

Vigna Rovera is one of the highest and most demanding plots in Carema, where viticulture becomes an act of resistance and precision. The “La Rue” project treats this vineyard as a single-parcel expression, emphasizing its purest identity. Production is extremely limited to a single barrique, reinforcing its micro-artisanal nature. Compared to other interpretations of the region, this wine shows greater aromatic finesse and a more delicate tension. It expresses the mountain not through power, but through balance and subtlety.

Vineyard philosophy

The vineyard philosophy is deeply rooted in Carema’s heroic viticulture, where every task is performed manually on steep slopes and historic terraces. Vigna Rovera, due to its altitude and exposure, represents one of the most challenging yet distinctive sites in the appellation. Yields are naturally very low, and canopy management is carefully handled to preserve vegetative balance and phenolic quality. The agricultural work aims to maintain a historic tradition without modern forcing. Each cluster is born under extreme natural selection.

Winemaking and varieties

The wine is made from 100% Nebbiolo, using a fully artisanal approach. Grapes are foot-crushed, following a traditional method that allows gentle extraction. Fermentation takes place spontaneously in wooden vats, with about 35 days of maceration on skins with stems. The wine then ages for 22 months in wood, followed by at least 6 months of bottle aging. The process is designed to preserve aromatic complexity and structural finesse while avoiding over-extraction.

Tasting notes

Color: translucent ruby red with fine garnet reflections, showing elegance and delicate extraction.
Nose: refined and complex, with balsamic notes, dried flowers, alpine herbs and subtle integrated spice.
Palate: tense and elegant, with fine tannins, vibrant freshness and a long, ethereal finish.

Food pairing

Pairs beautifully with refined Piedmontese cuisine, structured white meats, veal dishes, light game and aged but delicate cheeses. Also excellent with herb-based dishes and mushroom recipes.

Technical sheet

• Appellation: Carema DOC
• Wine name: La Rue – Vigna Rovera 2023
• Producer: La Rue
• Vintage: 2023
• Region: Piedmont
• Grape: 100% Nebbiolo
• Bottle size: 0.75 L
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Winemaking: foot crushing
• Fermentation: spontaneous in wood
• Maceration: 35 days with stems
• Aging: 22 months in wood
• Bottle aging: minimum 6 months
• Production: one single barrique
• Serving temperature: 16–18°C
• Sulfites: contains sulfites

Monte Maletto CAREMA (TO) – HEROIC VITICULTURE IN NORTHERN PIEDMONT

Carema Winery – The return of heroic mountain viticulture

History of the territory and the winery

Carema, in Northern Piedmont, is one of the most extreme and fascinating expressions of Italian mountain viticulture, where heroic viticulture is not a marketing definition but a daily working condition. Vineyards are planted on steep terraced slopes built with dry stone walls, shaping a fragile balance between man and mountain. In recent years, the area has experienced a revival thanks to young winemakers such as Gian Marco Viano and estates like Monte Maletto, who have helped restore abandoned vineyards. These interventions saved ancient plots that were at risk of disappearing. The recent history of the winery is therefore a story of agricultural and cultural rebirth. Today, Carema is again recognized for its authentic mountain wines and extreme terroir expression.

Vineyard philosophy

The vineyard philosophy is based on a clear principle: restore, preserve and interpret the landscape without forcing it. All vineyard work is fully manual due to steep slopes and complex terraces. Yields are intentionally low, resulting in highly concentrated and expressive grapes. Respect for soil balance and biodiversity guides every agronomic decision. Viticulture here is an act of resistance as much as production, where every cluster reflects the hardship of mountain farming. Nebbiolo finds a unique expression of minerality, tension and alpine character that cannot be replicated in flatter areas.

Winemaking approach

In the winery, the approach is consistent with vineyard work: minimal intervention, long timelines and respect for natural evolution. Fermentations are carefully managed but not intrusive, allowing the grape variety and terroir to fully express themselves. Aging is carried out in vessels that preserve rather than mask identity. The goal is not standardization but vintage and vineyard transparency. Human intervention is subtle and observational rather than corrective. This results in wines that directly reflect the vertical and tense character of Carema’s mountain terroir.

Identity and production vision

The estate currently works on about 0.5 hectares in Carema, plus a small parcel of Erbaluce in Parella. Production is extremely limited and focuses on two wines representing freshness and depth. The vision is not volume growth but territorial identity. Each wine is a precise interpretation of a micro-terroir. The project remains fully artisanal, where human scale is central. All wines contain sulfites.