REGION Piemonte

The cultivation of Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato is limited to Castagnole Monferrato, making it among the smallest appellations in Italy. Though once of modest output, production is now expanding due to its award of DOC status. Luca is one of just 28 producers helping to resurrect the grape and promote the wine to an international market. With no preconceptions surrounding the wine those curious enough to give it a chance have responded with unanimous praise, making Ruchè one of Vino’s best-selling word-of-mouth wines. But Luca isn’t just about Ruchè: his Barbera and Grignolino offer classic piemontese quality and taste and remarkable value. This year Ferraris has added a new wine to his portfolio, an exciting blend of Ruchè and Syrah which he calls Il Re.

The land: The 10-ha Ferraris estate is located in the 40-ha appellation of Castagnole Monferrato, just to the northeast of Asti. It was granted DOC status only in 1987, though the Ferraris family has made wine there since 1921. Luca Ferraris has slowly and laboriously built up the estate, buying special parcels like Bric d’Bianc and planting indigenous varieties such as Ruche, Barbera, and Grignolino, as well as some Syrah and Viognier.

The farming: Luca is passionately committed to sustainable agriculture. He looks forward to passing on to his children what his grandfather taught him, but is eager to incorporate beneficial lessons from modern science as well. He believes that it is important to treat the greater environment around his vineyards with care and respect, and that it is this total approach that allows him to make wines of such character.

The winery: Luca’s cellar is a perfect synthesis of his philosophy of maintaining his heritage while learning from modernity. It is dramatic and deep, carved from the tuffa, begun in 1430 and completed by his grandfather. In it, Luca uses temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to ferment wines of great freshness, then ages them in large, old oak barrels.

[Winery information PDF]

WEBSITE lucaferraris.it
FACEBOOK Luca Ferraris Official Fan Club

WINES
Monferrato Bianco Sensazioni 2011
Monferrato Rosé Chiaretto 2011
Grignolino d’Asti 2011
Barbera d’Asti 2011
Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato Bric d’Bianc 2011
Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato Il Firmato 2011
Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato Opera Prima 2009
Monferrato Rosso Il Re 2007
Barbera del Monferrato Frizzante 2011