The acquisition adds ten hectares to the winery’s properties in one of the most prestigious appellations for Barbera wines: Nizza DOCG
Purchase, NY, December 19, 2019 – Michele Chiarlo, a family-owned and operated winery located in Piedmont, Italy, continues to invest in the prestigious Barbera appellation of Nizza DOCG with the purchase of ten hectares of vineyards in the Monferrato growing region. The Chiarlo family’s acquisition shows their commitment to producing top-quality Barbera wines, including La Court Nizza Riserva DOCG and the Cipressi Barbera Nizza DOCG 2015, which topped Wine Enthusiast’s list of Top 100 Wines in 2018.
With this acquisition, the winery’s estate has grown to 20 hectares in the appellation. The new vineyards, Montemareto (2.5 ha in Castelnuovo Calcea) and Moncucco Cavino (7.5 ha in Mombercelli), are located in the central sector of Nizza DOCG. Part of the greater Asti appellation, the Nizza subzone was elevated to a DOCG status in 2014, and by law may only produce 100% Barbera Nizza DOCG wines. The newly-acquired parcels are a distinguished addition to the existing vineyards of La Court, the family’s historical estate.
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to add these two important crus to our vineyard heritage. They are representative of this appellation that our family has helped to develop, and we welcome the opportunity to support its growth for the future,” says Michele Chiarlo, founder and owner of Michele Chiarlo winery.
Winemaker Stefano Chiarlo adds, “In the early days of this appellation, when our father was the first president of the newly-formed Associazione del Nizza in 2002, we believed that Barbera wine had all the right characteristics to be considered a great Piedmont red. Our instinct has proven true as Nizza DOCG wines receive international recognition, national and international awards from critics, and additional investments being made in this area. This is proof of its great potential, and we are eager to continue to elevate, promote, and enhance this category.”
The Montemareto parcel (2.5 ha) is characterized by a steep slope and ample sunlight in the summer and autumn. Its soils are prevalent in sand, silt, and micronutrients like calcium and magnesium and produce wines with great structure, ageing potential, and balance. A few kilometers to the north, the Moncucco Cavino vineyards (7.5 ha) have southern exposure and feature gentle hills consisting of clay and silt-based soils, resulting in wines with great freshness, acidity, and minerality.
“It will be an honor for us to produce wines from these new plots,” says Alberto Chiarlo, Marketing and Sales Director, “and it is our intention, if the right opportunities present themselves, to continue to invest in the great Piedmont territories, because our family’s vocation is and always will be to vinify the most prestigious crus of Piedmont.”
For more information on Michele Chiarlo, please visit www.michelechiarlo.it/en or follow news and updates on Facebook @michelechiarlo.official, Twitter @michelechiarlo, and Instagram MicheleChiarlo using the hashtag: #MicheleChiarloNizza.
About Michele Chiarlo:
Since 1956, Michele Chiarlo has been vinifying the essence of Piedmont, loving and developing the most incredible wine region in the world, with 110 hectares of vineyards in Langhe, Monferrato, and Gavi. The winery practices a rigorous selection of the best grapes from the most reputable growers in highly-favored vineyard areas, as well as longer oak and bottle aging prior to release, both measures adopted by the producer before they were instituted by appellation law. Michele Chiarlo is also credited with being one of the first producers to introduce malolactic fermentation to Italy, thereby achieving wines of greater stability, lower acidity, and easier accessibility in their youth.
About Kobrand Corporation
Founded in 1944, Kobrand Corporation remains one of the few family-owned wine and spirits companies in the United States. Kobrand’s portfolio of fine wine and spirits was meticulously selected according to a single, unerring principle: quality. This continued focus has made the Kobrand name synonymous with wines and spirits of the highest caliber for almost 75 years. Kobrand is the exclusive agent for an outstanding selection of fine wines, spirits and sakes from key regions around the world, including the United States, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Chile, Argentina, and New Zealand. For more information, about Kobrand and our portfolio visit http://www.Kobrandwineandspirits.com.
