La Spinetta

History of La Spinetta

The history of La Spinetta has its roots in the late 19th century, when Giovanni Rivetti emigrated to Argentina with the dream of one day returning to produce a Fine Wine on his Piedmontese land. That dream came to life 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 then believed in the potential of Moscato d'Asti and created the first single-vineyard Moscatos, Bricco Quaglia and Biancospino.

The first red wine, Barbera Cà di Pian, was born 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 sixty-five hectares in Tuscany in 2001 and taking over the spumante house Contratto in Canelli in 2011. Today, the sons Giorgio, Bruno, and Carlo Rivetti run the estate.

Terroirs and Vineyards of La Spinetta

The vineyard spans several exceptional terroirs. In Barbaresco, the Gallina and Starderi crus in Neive, Valeirano in Treiso, and Bordini offer nebbiolo blue-grey and yellow-white marls conducive to wines that are both structured and fragrant. In Barolo, the Campè and Garretti parcels in Grinzane Cavour provide power and depth.

The family also cultivates barbera in Asti and Alba, moscato in the hills of Canelli, as well as white grape varieties such as timorasso. In Tuscany, the Casanova della Spinetta estate, located between Pisa and Volterra, is planted primarily with sangiovese, an ambassador of the Tuscan terroir, complemented by vermentino. Most of the vines are tended using a nature-respectful approach, with low yields and manual harvesting.

Winemaking at La Spinetta

La Spinetta has built its reputation through an exacting and perfectionist approach to winemaking. The three Barbarescos — Gallina, Starderi, and Valeirano — are deliberately vinified in an identical manner, so that the nuances between them reflect only the personality of each terroir. The great reds benefit from careful macerations and wood aging, often in barriques for the prestige cuvées, in pursuit of concentration and aging potential.

The Moscato d'Asti wines are crafted to preserve the aromatic freshness and fruity intensity of the grape variety, in a delicate and refined style. In Tuscany, the sangiovese wines reveal their full potential after several years of aging, while the Contratto house perpetuates the tradition of classic-method spumante.

The cuvées of La Spinetta

Barbaresco Gallina: the estate's first Barbaresco, born in 1995 and the first wine to bear the rhinoceros emblem. Sourced from the Gallina cru in Neive, it captivates with its fruitiness, floral notes, and elegance.

Barbaresco Starderi: a Neive cru vinified like its sibling wines, deep and refined, with great aging potential and produced in exceptional years as a Riserva.

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

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

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

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

Langhe Nebbiolo: a cuvée sourced from Barbaresco and Barolo cru grapes, refined and beautifully fruity, designed to be enjoyed young while also capable of evolving.

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

Barbera d'Asti Cà di Pian: the estate's first red wine, launched in 1985 and as popular as ever, indulgent and fruity, with vibrant acidity.

Barbera d'Asti Bionzo: a superior barbera of great quality, more concentrated and structured, considered among the finest barberas on the market.

Barbera d'Alba Gallina: a barbera sourced from the Gallina cru, produced since 1997, rich and expressive, marked by beautiful fruit and great depth.

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

Moscato d'Asti Biancospino: a second single-vineyard Moscato d'Asti, fresh and fragrant, consistently at the top of its appellation.

Passito: a passito-style sweet wine, crafted from dried grapes, rich and luscious, perfect with desserts.

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

Il Nero di Casanova: a Tuscan sangiovese from the Casanova della Spinetta estate, expressive and approachable, with notes of red fruits and spices.

Sezzana: a great Tuscan red based on sangiovese, dense and structured, revealing its full potential after several years of aging.

Sassontino: another prestigious Tuscan cuvée with a sangiovese-dominant blend, deep and elegant, built for aging.

Il Rosé di Casanova: a Tuscan sangiovese rosé, fresh and fruity, ideal for convivial moments.

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

Contratto: the spumante house from Canelli, taken over in 2011, perpetuates the tradition of classic-method sparkling wine, with fine and refined bubbles that complement the estate's range.