Azienda Vitivinicola Luigi Tacchino

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Azienda Vitivinicola Luigi Tacchino

PIEDMONT, ITALY

For more than three generations the Tacchino family has produced superb fresh and vibrant wines in Castelletto d`Orba in Monferrato, Piedmont. This is perfect wine country as the hills provide a natural amphitheatre which protects the vineyards from the northerly winds. Today, brother and sister duo Alessio and Romina run the Tacchino estate, with Bob the German Shephard close at their heels. While Alessio remains close to his vines, it is Romina who welcomes visitors and visits markets. A tasting with Romina is always inspiring and special; her enthusiasm for the wine of Piedmont is infectious. Having worked with Bancroft since 2004, she feels firmly part of our family, too.

Romina’s brother Alessio tends the vines alongside their father Luigi, possibly the fittest 80 year old you will ever meet. On our last visit, they had been chasing off wolves that have become regular visitors to the vineyards. There is now a population of around 1000 in Piemonte now and it adds to the burden of care in remote vineyards. Romina has been supplying Bancroft with their Gavi di Gavi, a firm favourite of staff and customers alike, for many years now, but the family’s

first passion has to be their reds. The vines are from two impressive amphitheatres that back onto each other either side of a ruined fortification; the Torre dell`Albarola.

They also produce impressive Dolcetto and a Barbera, both of which need time to develop in a large glass. Their Du Riva Dolcetto d’Ovada Superiore, from a particular clone championed by their grandfather, has won the prestigious Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri for 12 successive years, a very rare feat indeed. It was Romina’s grandfather, in fact, who encouraged her to experiment with the ‘nibio’ Dolcetto clone, when she said some 25 years ago that she wanted to create a more serious Dolcetto. The `Albarola` Barbera del Monferrato DOCG is replete with concentrated fruit that is lifted and polished, plus a bright fresh acidity, while the `Di Fatto` Monferrato DOC Rosso pays homage to the `true` grapes of Piedmont in a blend of Barbera, Dolcetto, Cabernet Sauvignon and Barbarossa. A fantastic range and a true family endeavour.