La Spinetta

The History of La Spinetta

La Spinetta's story reaches back to the late 19th century, when Giovanni Rivetti emigrated to Argentina with the dream of one day returning to make a fine wine in his native Piedmont. That dream came true in 1977, when his descendant Giuseppe Rivetti, known as Pin, founded the estate in Castagnole Lanze, whose name means “the top of the hill.” The family believed in the potential of Moscato d'Asti and created the first single-vineyard Moscato wines, Bricco Quaglia and Biancospino.

The first red wine, Barbera Cà di Pian, debuted in 1985, followed in 1989 by Pin, a blend of nebbiolo and barbera dedicated to the founder. The first Barbaresco, Gallina, appeared in 1995, followed by Starderi and Valeirano. In 2000, the family ventured into Barolo with Campè in Grinzane Cavour, before acquiring 65 hectares in Tuscany in 2001 and taking over the Contratto spumante house in Canelli in 2011. Today, Giorgio, Bruno, and Carlo Rivetti, the family's sons, run the estate.

La Spinetta's Terroirs and Vineyards

The vineyards span several exceptional terroirs. In Barbaresco, the Gallina and Starderi crus in Neive, Valeirano in Treiso, and Bordini offer nebbiolo blue-gray and white-yellow marl soils conducive to wines that are both structured and aromatic. In Barolo, the Campè and Garretti plots in Grinzane Cavour bring power and depth.

The family also grows barbera in Asti and Alba, moscato in the hills of Canelli, and white varieties such as timorasso. In Tuscany, domaine Casanova della Spinetta, between Pisa and Volterra, is planted mainly with sangiovese, an ambassador for the Tuscan terroir, alongside vermentino. Most of the vines are tended using an approach that respects nature, with low yields and hand harvesting.

Winemaking at La Spinetta

La Spinetta has built its reputation on an exacting, perfectionist approach to winemaking. Its three Barbaresco wines—Gallina, Starderi, and Valeirano—are deliberately vinified in the same way so that the differences between them reflect only the character of each terroir. The major reds undergo carefully managed maceration and oak aging, often in barrels for the prestige cuvées, to achieve concentration and aging potential.

The Moscato d'Asti wines, meanwhile, are made to preserve the grape's aromatic freshness and fruit intensity in a delicate, refined style. In Tuscany, sangiovese wines reveal their full potential after several years of aging, while Contratto continues the tradition of traditional-method spumante.

La Spinetta's Cuvées

Barbaresco Gallina: the estate's first Barbaresco, introduced in 1995 and the first wine to feature the rhinoceros. From the Gallina cru in Neive, it charms with its fruit, floral notes, and elegance.

Barbaresco Starderi: a Neive cru vinified in the same way as its sibling wines, deep and refined, with excellent aging potential and a Riserva version made in great years.

Barbaresco Valeirano: from Treiso, this Barbaresco completes the estate's trio of great crus, with a structured profile and superb aging potential.

Barbaresco Bordini: a cru acquired from the Bordini family in 2006, neighboring Starderi, that offers a fragrant, approachable expression of Barbaresco nebbiolo.

Barolo Campè: the estate's first Barolo, launched in 2000 and sourced from Grinzane Cavour. Powerful and complex, with firm tannins and notes of ripe fruit and spice.

Barolo Garretti: a more approachable Barolo made from the Garretti and Campè plots, expressing the character of nebbiolo from Grinzane Cavour.

Langhe Nebbiolo: a cuvée made from grapes grown in the Barbaresco and Barolo crus, distinguished and beautifully fruit-driven, designed to be enjoyed young while also able to develop with age.

Pin: a modern blend of nebbiolo and barbera created in 1989 in honor of the founder, supple and silky, with aromas of dark fruit, chocolate, and leather.

Barbera d'Asti Cà di Pian: the estate's first red wine, launched in 1985 and still as popular as ever, generous and fruit-forward, with vibrant acidity.

Barbera d'Asti Bionzo: a high-quality Barbera Superiore, more concentrated and structured, considered among the best barbera wines on the market.

Barbera d'Alba Gallina: a barbera from the Gallina cru, produced since 1997, rich and expressive, with appealing fruit and depth.

Moscato d'Asti Bricco Quaglia: one of the estate's two historic Moscato wines, a remarkably fine, sweet, sparkling wine with floral and fruity aromas.

Moscato d'Asti Biancospino: the second single-vineyard Moscato d'Asti, fresh and fragrant, consistently among the finest in its appellation.

Passito: a rich, smooth passito-style sweet wine made from dried grapes, perfect with desserts.

Timorasso: a dry white wine made from the rare timorasso grape, with appealing mineral tension and a pronounced aromatic character.

Il Nero di Casanova: a Tuscan sangiovese from domaine Casanova della Spinetta, expressive and approachable, with notes of red fruit and spice.

Sezzana: a distinguished Tuscan red made from sangiovese, dense and structured, that reveals its full potential after several years of aging.

Sassontino: another prestige Tuscan cuvée made predominantly from sangiovese, deep and elegant, and built to age.

Il Rosé di Casanova: a fresh, fruity Tuscan sangiovese rosé, ideal for sharing with friends.

Vermentino: a Tuscan white wine with a lively, elegant character and aromas of citrus and flowers, reflecting the freshness of the Tuscan coast.

Contratto: the Canelli spumante house, acquired in 2011, continues the tradition of traditional-method sparkling wine, with fine, refined bubbles that complement the estate's range.