Ferraris Ruchè Vigna del Parroco 2024

Vigna del Parroco is a vineyard in Castagnole Monferrato, in the province of Asti, in the heart of the hills of Piedmont's Monferrato. Planted in 1964 by Don Giacomo Cauda, the village priest and true father of the appellation, it is now more than sixty years old. It is the first vineyard in the Ruchè area to be recognised as an official mention by the Piedmont Region. The continental climate and sunny hillsides reveal the aromatic character of this rare grape variety.

The Ferraris family has been the sole owner of this vineyard since 2016. The Ruchè grapes from these old vines are vinified so as to preserve the partly aromatic character of the variety. The wine is aged in stainless-steel tanks, without oak, to let the finesse of the fruit and all the elegance of these sixty-year-old vines express themselves.

This wine reveals notes of rose, violet, blackberry, plum, cherry, liquorice, pepper and cola. The intense ruby colour heralds a floral, spicy nose, typical of Ruchè. The palate, supple and almost powdery, is elegant and balanced, with layers of flavour that build to a dry, long finish.

Ah, Italy, what a beautiful, hedonistic country, the land of la dolce vita, but how difficult it is to understand its wine industry! The key to understanding the appellation system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous nation, as each region has its own appellation system. Italy can offer wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, bottles brimming with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless, characterless wines sold under their most commercially useful and prestigious name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco, and many others... But let's talk a little history. Viticulture in Italy dates back to antiquity and originated in Greece. The Etruscans are said to have introduced the vine, and Greek immigrants improved and modified the grape varieties, subsequently calling the country "Oenotria": the land of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life, and certain regions already distinguished themselves by the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible mark of their conquest. Today, Italy is the world's largest wine producer, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic zones. The northern mountains have a rather harsh mountain climate. The plains of the "central boot" are characterized by a continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the southern part of the Italian boot, the Mediterranean climate prevails, with very hot and dry summers, not forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In short, Italy produces a wide variety of wines thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originated in its own lands. It is a country as complex as its wines, which deserve to be explored!