Winery
Claudio Mariotto
This counts, as the grape is particularly difficult to cultivate (one of the reasons it came close to extinction) with problems including low and uneven yields where grapes ripen at different rates in the same bunch. Timorasso finds its home in the province of Alessandria, surrounding Tortona 80 kilometres east of Alba. Claudio’s farm was founded by his great grandfather Bepi in the 1920s, and now has around 15 hectares dedicated to Timorasso.
In the Vineyard
Our vineyards enjoy a favorable microclimate as they are located close to the Apennines overlooking the Po Valley and influenced by the proximity of the sea which is only 60 km from the area.
We define our cultivation method as a common sense agriculture, without the use of pesticides, with pruning and leaf stripping that respect the vine.
The Timorasso grape is an autochthonous white berried grape from the Tortonesi Hills area.
It has been brought to the area since the Middle Ages, and over the centuries it has become the most cultivated vine in the area, until the arrival of phylloxera and the Second World War.
Years of progressive abandonment of the countryside and reduction of the area under vines followed, in which Timorasso was gradually abandoned in favor of easier and more productive varieties.
In recent years there has been the rediscovery of Timorasso, thanks to its oenological characteristics and the predisposition to aging for many years becoming a wine with great structure both in the nose and in the mouth.
In the Winery
The efforts didn’t stop at vine selection. Simone, Claudio’s right hand man shared much of the winemaking process during a dinner devouring his wines, one thing is clear, deep thought has gone into every step of the process.
Where in the World is Claudio Mariotto?
Cantina Claudio Mariotto is located in the Colli Tortonesi DOC just east of Alessandria.
