Ascheri Bricco S. Giacomo Nebbiolo d'Alba 2014
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The Giacomo Ascheri Cellars originated in La Morra: in the early 19th century, the first vines were planted in that area, where a place called “Ascheri” still exists, and the first wines were produced.
At that time in the Langhe, vine-growing and wine-making were still primitive and rudimental: wines were mostly sold in demijohns and they travelled for several days before reaching the selling points. However, a reliable account dating back to that period and concerning the “Ascheri” vine cultivation method (then considered modern for its technical innovations) clearly shows how, since its very beginning, the Ascheri Winery stood out for its commitment and innovative methods.
In that period, thanks to its geographical position, Bra had become the most important town for the distribution of Barolo, the best known wine of the area. Bra was, in fact, conveniently located and it had good connections with Turin, the most important wine market in the region due to the presence of the Royal House of Savoy. The Royal Family itself owned important estates in the surroundings of Bra, such as the Pollenzo Estate and the S.Vittoria d’Alba old Winery.
For these reasons, in 1880 their winery was moved from La Morra to Bra, where it is still situated nowadays. At present the cellars are the only ones left which can boast such an ancient and beautiful heritage. The years from the early 20th century to their days have been characterized by a steady effort to increase the value of their products.
With a view to expanding the estates by acquiring the most valuable production areas, they have subsequently added to the original La Morra Vineyards (mainly producing grapes for Barolo, Barbera d’Alba and Dolcetto d’Alba) the estates of Serralunga d’Alba, Verduno and Bra.
Responsible for some of the most elegant and age-worthy wines in the world, Nebbiolo, named for the ubiquitous autumnal fog (called nebbia in Italian), is the star variety of northern Italy’s Piedmont region. Grown throughout the area, as well as in the neighboring Valle d’Aosta and Valtellina, it reaches its highest potential in the Piedmontese villages of Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero. Outside of Italy, growers are still very much in the experimentation stage but some success has been achieved in parts of California. Somm Secret—If you’re new to Nebbiolo, start with a charming, wallet-friendly, early-drinking Langhe Nebbiolo or Nebbiolo d'Alba.
An historic village situated right in between the famous regions of Barolo and Barbaresco, Alba is also the name for the larger wine region surrounding the village.
In a sense, “Alba” is a catch-all phrase, and includes the declassified Nebbiolo wines made in Barolo and Barbaresco, as well as the Nebbiolo grown just outside of these regions’ borders. In fact, Nebbiolo d’Alba is a softer, less tannic and more fruit-forward wine ready to drink within just a couple years of bottling. It is a great place to start if you want to begin to understand the grape. Likewise, the even broader category of Langhe Nebbiolo offers approachable and value-driven options as well.
Barbera, planted alongside Nebbiolo in the surrounding hills, and referred to as Barbera d’Alba, takes on a more powerful and concentrated personality compared to its counterparts in Asti.
Dolcetto is ubiquitous here and, known as Dolcetto d'Alba, can be found casually served alongside antipasti on the tables of Alba’s cafes and wine bars.
Not surprisingly, given its location, Alba is recognized as one of Italy’s premiere culinary destinations and is the home of the fall truffle fair, which attracts visitors from worldwide every year.