Daniele Ricci

Daniele Ricci is a natural wine producer located in the Colli Tortonesi hills of Piedmont, Italy. The winery, named Cascina San Leto, is a multi-generational family business known for its focus on the native Timorasso grape.

History and Location

• Location: The winery is situated in Costa Vescovado, in the province of Alessandria, within the Tortona hills.

• Family Roots: The farm, Cascina San Leto, was purchased by Daniele's grandfather in 1929. At the time, the farm had 6 hectares of vineyards planted with Barbera, Croatina, and Timorasso, but was primarily dedicated to raising animals.

• Modern Winery: The actual winery was built by Daniele's father in the 1980s. Daniele took over the business in 1986 at the age of 23.

Winemaking Philosophy

Daniele Ricci's philosophy is centered on a deep respect for the land and a "less is more" approach in the cellar.

• Organic Viticulture: The winery has been practicing organic farming since the late 1990s and has been certified organic since 2017. Their philosophy is that man must adapt to nature, not the other way around. They avoid the use of herbicides, synthetic products, or chemical fertilizers.

• Indigenous Grapes: Daniele Ricci is a major proponent of the native Timorasso grape, which was once nearly extinct. He is also known for his red wines made from Barbera and Croatina.

• Natural Winemaking: In the cellar, the process is hands-off.

  • Spontaneous Fermentation: They use indigenous yeasts for fermentation.

  • Skin Contact: Many of their white wines, particularly those made from Timorasso, undergo extended skin maceration, sometimes for as long as 90 to 100 days. This gives the wines their "orange wine" character, with added depth, complexity, and color.

  • Minimal Additives: No clarifying agents or filtration are used. The addition of sulfur is minimal.

  • Aging: Wines are aged in various vessels, including steel tanks, large barrels, and even amphorae.

  • Notable Wines

Daniele Ricci is celebrated for his unique and complex expressions of local grapes, especially Timorasso.

• Il Giallo di Costa: This is a notable "orange wine" made from Timorasso. It undergoes long skin maceration and is known for its intense golden color, with a complex flavor profile of ripe fruit, honey, and subtle tannins.

• Derthona: Another Timorasso wine, named after the historical name for the Tortona area. It is typically aged in acacia barrels and is known for its fresh, vertical character with notes of aromatic herbs and citrus.

• Io Cammino Da Solo: A highly expressive Timorasso that undergoes extended maceration in amphora and aging in chestnut barrels. The name, which means "I walk alone," reflects Daniele's independent and non-interventionist approach.

• Elso: A red wine made from 100% Croatina grapes. The wine is dedicated to his maternal grandfather and showcases the potential of this difficult-to-handle but age-worthy grape, with its close kinship to Nebbiolo.

• El Matt: A red wine made from Croatina, with its name meaning "the crazy one" in reference to the winemaker. It is fermented in stainless steel and aged in barriques, and is known for being fragrant and fruit-driven.