Cascina Langairolo

Langhe - Piedmont

is a small-scale, family-run winery located in the Langhe region of Piedmont. While there is a lack of publicly available information on their exact technical protocols, their philosophy is clearly aligned with the traditional and terroir-driven winemaking of the region.

Viticulture:

• Focus on Native Grapes: The winery's portfolio, as seen in available product listings, centers on classic Piedmontese varietals such as Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Arneis. This indicates a strong commitment to expressing the local terroir through its most emblematic grapes.

• Terroir: The vineyards are situated in the Langhe, a region known for its rolling hills and distinct marl and calcareous clay soils. These soils are crucial to the character of the wines, providing the Nebbiolo with structure and longevity, and the white grapes with a crisp minerality.

Enology:

• Traditional Techniques: Given the region and the small-scale nature of the operation, it is highly probable that the winemaking follows a traditional, non-interventionalist path. This would likely include:

  • Fermentation with Indigenous or Selected Yeasts: To achieve a clean fermentation while allowing the varietal character to come through.

  • Extended Maceration: For red grapes like Nebbiolo, a long period of skin contact is essential for extracting the necessary tannins, color, and aromatic compounds for a long-aging wine.

• Aging in Oak: Nebbiolo from the Langhe is traditionally aged in large, neutral Slavonian oak barrels (botti grandi). It is reasonable to assume that Cascina Langairolo employs this method to allow the wine to mature and soften without adding strong oak flavors.

• Minimal Filtration: Small-scale, traditional producers often avoid fining and filtration to preserve the wine's natural body and integrity, which may result in a small amount of sediment in the bottle.