WINE: Cantina del Pino’s Albesani bottling, sourced from the Santo Stefano hill in Neive, represents a powerful counterpoint to their signature Ovello vineyard. While the Ovello is known for sandy soils and finesse, the Albesani cru features a higher concentration of clay and a warm southern exposure, resulting in a Barbaresco that is richer, more structured, and often more approachable in its youth. These vines, which range from 35 to 70 years old, produce a wine characterized by intense dark red fruit, ripe tannins, and complex floral and spice notes that deepen significantly with age.

VINTAGE:  2018 is widely characterized as a "Burgundian" year, favoring elegance, fragrance, and accessibility over raw power and structure. While it was a challenging growing season for many, it is generally considered more successful and consistent in Barbaresco than in Barolo.

ESTATE: One of the oldest estates in Barbaresco, Cantina del Pino was founded as Cascina Casotto in 1894 by Domizio Cavazza - the legendary agronomist, director of the Royal Enological School in Alba, and some say, the Father of Barbaresco.  On the day his son Luigi was born, Cavazza had planted a pine tree in the backyard of his property to mark the highest point of the Ovello Hill.

In 1912 Guiseppe Vacca bought the property from his friend and his family has been living and working in the vines ever since.  In 1997, to pay homage to the special friendship between Giuseppe and Domizio, the winery was re-named after the pine tree and is now the Cantina del Pino.

At the time Renato Vacca (the great grandson of Giuseppe Vacca) convinced his father, Adriano, to start their own label when he left the legendary Produttori del Barbaresco Cooperative. Joined by Franca Miretti, Renato's wife, a winemaker in her own right, in 2013, the pair made wine together for seven years until Renato passed away in 2020. Now, Franca steers the historic estate along with Renato’s parents - continuing the traditions and dedication to the quality wines of Cantina del Pino, the historic winery on the Ovello Hill.