ADRIANO MAGAZINE
Autumn 2024
Thirty years on from our first harvest in 1994, we have come to realise once again what the word RAIN truly means! It seems that years ending in a '4’ really love it when the heavens open (this is the repartee made in the vineyard last month).
I’m writing to you now after bringing this really difficult and rainy 2024 harvest to a close.
This year I finally ‘got’ what my grandfather Aldo meant all those times he said, laughing:
“You’re all used to dry harvests, always clean, not the ones I did, soaked to the skin and muddy!”
After two years of drought, we were beginning to think about how to work the vineyards without water.
And instead, despite a dry and warm winter, the rain began in April and didn’t stop.
This year, the vineyards needed a lot of care, extra work and more management than usual.
If you don't mind my saying, we were already tired when the harvest began but nonetheless happy with our achievements over the year: the grapes were abundant and beautiful.
Hard work always wins the prize!
However, the real difficulty began at the end of September, when it rained every two days.
It was often hard to get the tractor into the vineyard to pick up the crates of grapes–even the ones with caterpillar tracks slipped. And each day we had to decide: do we pick the grapes even if they're wet? And risk diluting both sugar and acidity? Or wait until the grapes dry and risk more rain and grapes that begin to rot? In short it was a harvest of compromises.
It was both tough and at the same time, tedious. Not one day did we have off, but finally we managed to finish. We did a lot of selecting in the vineyard and are hence happy with the quality of grapes brought into the cellar!
And now, some silence please…the wine is fermenting–we’ll report back on it soon!
AROUND AND ABOUT
I GRANDI TERROIR DEL BARBARESCO
Wine tasting counter and guided tastings
A great event dedicated to the M.G.A. of Barbaresco and to the comparison with other wines of the great Piedmont grape variety. It takes place in Alba and is the third edition: the event has officially entered the general program of the International Alba White Truffle Fair and has moved its date to the weekend starting from Friday 1 November.
WHEN: November 1st and 2nd from 11.00 until 18.00
WHERE: Alba | Hotel Calissano, Via Pola 8
We have five tickets to give away; get in touch with us to get one.
ROSSOBARBERA
You’ll find our 2017 and 2021 Barbera Superiore among the wines in the biggest
Barbera wine tasting event!
WHEN: From Friday, November 1st until Monday, November 4th
WHERE: Costigliole d’Asti | Castello di Costigliole
PROGRAMME AND TICKETS: https://www.rossobarbera.it/
I WEEKEND DI PIACERE BARBARESCO
Michela will be in the Enoteca the whole day with a vertical tasting of our Barbaresco, along with the Sassi Estate. Barbaresco winemakers will be in the Enoteca each Saturday and Sunday for the whole of the autumn. There will be a TOUR OF THE CRUS each Saturday.
WHEN: Saturday, November 16th
WHERE: BARBARESCO | Enoteca Regionale del Barbaresco
PROGRAMME AND TICKETS:
BAROLO, BARBARESCO AND ROERO IN TURIN.
Our wines start on the Go Wine circuit with the first stop in Turin.
WHEN: Wednesday, November 20th
WHERE: Turin| Eataly Lingotto
PROGRAMME AND TICKETS:
The FIVI WINE FAIR FOR INDEPENDENT WINEMAKERS
The Bologna fair brings the year to a close and we can hardly wait to take part in it with you and all the other winemakers present, to toast, taste and share a bottle !
WHEN: From November 23rd to 25th
WHERE: Bologna | Bologna Fiere
Pavilion 30 - Lain F - Stand 19
PROGRAMME AND TICKETS: https://mercatodeivini.it/biglietti/
Along with the other Sbarbatelle women winemakers, Michela will give a master class at the FIVI fair
"Women Winegrowers: young shoots, deep roots”
PROGRAMME AND TICKETS:
IN THE CELLAR
Opening times and closing days:
Open for purchases from Monday to Saturday
Closed Sunday
Closed Friday afternoon, November 1st
Closed Monday, November 25th for the FIVI fair in Bologna!
If you're planning to stop by, please let us know in advance at +39 0173 362294.
Cellar visits and tastings from Monday to Saturday by appointment only.
