VECCHIE TONNEAUX 2024

Vecchie Tonneaux 2024 – Structured Erbaluce aged in old tonneaux with beeswax, citrus and mint notes

Overview

The Vecchie Tonneaux 2024 is a 100% Erbaluce wine expressing the grape in a structured, complex and highly age-worthy style through a combination of stainless steel fermentation and aging in exhausted oak tonneaux. Produced in Piedmont, it is a full-bodied white wine with strong personality and evolving aromatic depth. The palate is rich yet vibrant, with continuous development in the glass. The wine contains sulfites.

Origin and identity of the wine

Vecchie Tonneaux is one of the most evolved interpretations of 100% Erbaluce, a native Piedmontese grape known for its natural acidity and aging potential. The name refers directly to the use of old 15-year-old tonneaux, chosen to enhance complexity without overpowering the varietal character. The project aims to create a white wine capable of long evolution both in bottle and glass, balancing tradition and modern winemaking.

Vineyard philosophy

The vineyard philosophy focuses on enhancing Erbaluce’s natural traits of acidity, freshness and structural integrity. Grapes are carefully selected to ensure balance between aromatic ripeness and tension. Agronomic practices prioritize quality and varietal identity, aiming to produce fruit capable of supporting long and complex vinifications.

Winemaking and varieties

The wine is made from 100% Erbaluce. Grapes are harvested, pressed and left in press overnight before fermentation begins. Fermentation starts in stainless steel and finishes in exhausted 15-year-old tonneaux, where the wine ages for about one year with frequent bâtonnage. Malolactic fermentation may occur depending on the vintage. The wine then rests for 4 months in bottle before release, resulting in a complex and evolving white wine.

Tasting notes

Color: deep, intense yellow with structure and brightness.
Nose: beeswax, ripe citrus and mint, layered and complex.
Palate: savory and textured, with vibrant freshness and a fruity finish with a delicate almond note.

Food pairing

Ideal with structured seafood dishes, risottos, elaborate white meats, aged cheeses and aromatic vegetable preparations.

Technical sheet

• Category: White wine
• Wine: Vecchie Tonneaux 2024
• Producer: —
• Vintage: 2024
• Region: Piedmont
• Grape: 100% Erbaluce
• Aging: exhausted 15-year-old tonneaux
• Time in wood: ~1 year
• Bâtonnage: frequent
• Fermentation: steel + wood
• Malolactic: variable
• Bottle aging: 4 months
• Bottle size: 0.75 L
• 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.