We are delighted to share the latest arrivals from Paola and Ivano of Santuvario.
Based in the sleepy town of Borgomanero in Alto Piemonte, the couple carefully farm a historic vineyard in Boca - one of the smallest wine regions of Italy. A site of incomparable beauty and energy, within the Monte Fenera Natural Park and influenced by the massif Monte Rosa, around five hundred meters above sea level. Their centenary vines, planted on igneous porphyry, basalts and sands, are trained with the ancient Maggiorina system. A method invented a few centuries ago to achieve large yields per vine, utilising a system that protects the vines from adverse weather conditions while taking advantage of the hill's slopes without the need for terracing. The Maggiorina is like a blanket that follows the contours of the earth, keeping the grapes airy, exposed to the sun, and away from the ground.
All fermentations, carried out with indigenous yeasts, take place outdoors in the garden, in stainless steel vats. The cellar, home to a couple of large barrels and three tonneaux, is a small room in the house's basement. Here, Paola and Ivano work without haste, letting each wine unfold in its own time, never forcing, never hurrying - simply waiting until it is ready to be shared.