THE VINEYARDS OF THE RIZZI WINERY

The vineyards of the Rizzi winery cover 44 hectares, half of which are in Nebbiolo for Barbaresco.

The remaining part is divided into Dolcetto, Barbera, Moscato, Freisa, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

These vineyards are located in 6 large wine-growing areas of Barbaresco, whose altitude varies from 220 to 430 meters above sea level.

One of the strengths of the Rizzi Company is the chance to boast 6 cru with some of the most famous vineyards in the whole denomination.

The Rizzi cru, which preserves the Boito vineyard, the Pajorè cru, the cru Nervo.

In the Cru Manzola, Giacone and Bricco di Neive, Nebbiolo grapes suitable for Barbaresco are not yet produced.

crü Rizzi

(in which we find the Boito Vineyards)

"If you arrive at Pertinace from alba, turning right to Treiso, you will cross the middle of the Treiso’s most impressive vine-clad hill, that start from Garassino and embraces some of the most famous Barbaresco vineyards, (Boito, Rizzi, Fratin, Nervo, Bernardot). The Rizzi vineyards is extensive, so it is not surprise that within it, there are substantial variations in aspect and altitude. The first part, which starts just north of the farmhouse Boito, to be considered optimal in the stretch from the main road climbs up to the farm above mentioned (295 meters) has a south-west exposure.  Just before the Cascina Rizzi, the slope turns to face southwards.  Here, from 300 meters above sea level go down the steep slope almost to the farm Fratino (about 200 meters above sea level): we are in the heart of Rizzi, even if the rows lined up under the road belong to the village of San Rocco Seno d’Elvio of the Alba municipality." 1
 

The Rizzi Company bears the name of the farmhouse Rizzi, that overlook the eponymous Cru, which gave its name.
Within the Crü Rizzi, the company owns nearly 10 hectares ( 25 acres).
It's very interesting to see the two souls of this great area:

1. In east part to the border with Cru Nervo, there is the white clay marl and limestone typical of the Langhe, more loose and thin, with a slightly greater presence of sand, which gives rise to very elegant wine, fine and rich in fragrance,

2. In the west of the farmhouse at the vineyard Boito, which represents the summit of the cru Rizzi, at the point where the slope turns from south to southwest, the composition of the marl limestone soil of this vineyard is characterized by the greater presence of clay. Here the soil is deeper and with a clay vein that cuts the hill. This part of the cru gives wines full bodied and tannic power, combined with elegance and inimitable fragrance and a great longevity.

From the grapes grown in this area, the company produces two of his Barbaresco: 

- The Barbaresco "Rizzi"

- The Barbaresco “Boito”, this one produced by the careful selection of grapes from selected vineyard in the portion of the hill called Boito.

(1 AA.VV., Atlante delle vigne di Langa. I grandi Crü del Barolo e del Barbaresco, Sloow Food Ed., Bra, 2000, cit. pag. 333)

crü Nervo

(inside it’s found the Vineyard FONDETTA)

"As you go back up to the village of Treiso, at Cascina Fornace, to the right of the Rizzi provincial road, the vineyards of Nervo are laid out before your eyes. Everything conspires to make this one of the finest vineyards in the entire Barbaresco area. First at all the vines enjoy a perfect south-facing location, with heights above sea level that range from 230 to 370 metres, similar to those in almost all the most renowned Langhe vineyards. In addition, the very steep slope makes work in the vineyard difficult and even dangerous but it also improves drainage and , above all, ensures greater exposure to sunlight. Finally, this idyllic picture is completed by the soil composition, which is a very unfertile white marl that menages to imbue the grapes with elegance and power in equal measure." 1

The Vineyard "Fondetta" is a real jewel of the estate Rizzi: A single piece of about 4 hectares, perched below the village of Treiso.
This vineyard is located at the point where the Nervo Cru (who belongs), is wedged between the Cru Bernardot and Bricco di Treiso.
It’s a real natural amphitheater where the vine finds its ideal stage to a position halfway up the hill away from the wind, and with a land where the greater presence of sand and sandstone gives wines very elegant and with a feminine and floral finesse
 

(1 AA.VV., Atlante delle vigne di Langa. I grandi Crü del Barolo e del Barbaresco, Sloow Food Ed., Bra, 2000, cit. pag. 332)

crü Pajorè

"Bordering the vines of Roncaglie and Montaribaldi, in the municipality of Barbaresco, Pajorè is incontestably one of most famous vineyards in the Langhe. The story goes that after assessing the quality of the wine made by Enrico Giovannini Moresco from his Pajoré plot in 1971, Angelo gaja decided to purchase the vineyard, as in fact he did a few years later......
The heart of crü Pajorè enjoys a near-perfect elevation from 300 metres to the roughly 230 metres of the last Nebbiolo worthy rows, before going further downhill to Cascina Chirella.
The finest plot, however, have a superb south or south-west-facing and very lean marly soil." 1

The vineyard inside the Pajorè cru, covering approximately 3 hectares, was incorporated in 2004-2007 by the Rizzi Company.
 

(1 AA.VV., Atlante delle vigne di Langa. I grandi Crü del Barolo e del Barbaresco, Sloow Food Ed., Bra, 2000, cit. pag. 332)

crü Manzola

"This is the smallest vineyard in the municipality of Treiso, but its special position, bounded to the north by Rombone, by Valeriano to the east and by the Manzola river to the west, ensures it a place in the front rank. In the late nineteenth century, Fantini had already noted its qualities, above all an unbroken south west-facing orientation and a moderate elevation, ranging from 210 to 250 metres above sea level. These give the vineyard a relatively warm mesoclimate and protect it from excessive ventilation. The only small blemishes in the profile are the very gentle slope and the proximity of the Rizzi hill, which can reduce the duration and intensity of the sunlight." 1

Rizzi Company owns 4 hectares ( 10 acres) of vineyard in this small Cru, but for now they are not planted with Nebbiolo, but in Moscato.
Hence there isn’t in the market any Rizzi Barbaresco “Manzola”, but in the future.
 

(1 AA.VV., Atlante delle vigne di Langa. I grandi Crü del Barolo e del Barbaresco, Sloow Food Ed., Bra, 2000, cit. pag. 330)

THE TERRITORY OF TREISO

A precious pearl set in the lower Langa and immersed in the most famous vineyards in the world

A road uphill, among the vineyards of Nebbiolo, Barbaresco and Dolcetto, in the most genuine and natural Langa, in the heart of the Barbaresco area, is the path that leads to Treiso, a UNESCO site 410 meters above sea level and about 9 km from Alba, 5 km from Barbaresco and another 5 km from Neive.

Treiso  is a small village, a "segment" of the Langa, with the Church and the bell tower in the center of a square (one of the largest in all the Langhe), around which group and develop houses scattered throughout the surrounding territory.

At Treiso there is a view  that strikes straight to the heart, a sort of terrace on a wonderful panorama made of vineyards and hills that change color with the seasons.

“From that small square you can overlook a little Langa on the left and right the hills of the Oltretanaro after which there is the plain at the end of which is the great city of Turin. The morning vapors slowly rose and the hills appeared as if they were being taken off a dress from below up. Negus said, as if among himself: - This world is made to live in peace with us”.

Beppe Fenoglio - The outward journey

The name Treiso is inextricably linked to that of Barbaresco.

Tresio is located in the heart of the Barbaresco area, exactly at the meeting point of 5 hills.

The structure of the territory is formed by a conspicuous frame of long hills, alternated by deep and medium wide valleys. The gullies are frequent, an extremely fascinating effect of the erosive phenomenon of water. The Barbaresco area is not fundamentally different from the Barolo area from a geological point of view.

The whole Barbaresco area is of Miocene origin (that is, it belongs to the Tertiary or Cenozoic Era) and of marine formation, with the exception of alluvial areas of Holocene origin (Quaternary or Neo-Nozoic Era). The soil is mainly made up of calcareous marl, sedimentary deposits that climbed to the surface with the gradual lifting of the primordial sea bed that covered the Po basin. Although the Barbaresco area is homogeneous, it can be divided into two parts according to the prevailing soil types:

     1. The soils of Treiso, San Rocco Seno d'Elvio and Neive, south of the town centre, belong to the " Formations of Lequio " (Tortoniano-Serravalliano), characterised by layers of compact grey marl alternating with layers of sand.

2. The land of Barbaresco and the part of Neive that is leaning against Barbaresco belong to the " Marne of Sant'Agata Fossili " (Tortoniano), characterized by calcareous bluish marls.

Another important element, primary to define the quality and character of a grape like Nebbiolo, so difficult to ripen completely, with its need to get the maximum amount of heat and sunlight, is altitude.

The altitude above sea level is between 150-450 meters, which is practically the ideal range for growing vines at these latitudes.

But at this point a clarification is required: the automatic identification between low levels and higher heat must be avoided, since exposure, slope position, presence or absence of wind currents and landscape configuration are also of fundamental importance in determining a precise microclimate. It is interesting to note, however, that the nine locations referred to as "chosen positions" by Fantini at the end of the 19th century – New Farmhouse, Burnt Farmhouse, Casotto, Ghiga, Rivosordo, Roncagliette, Manzola, Frattino, Valeirano - all belong to a fairly narrow range of elevation values. Their altitudes in meters above sea level are: 278, 321, 316, 210, 260, 334, 219, 260 respectively. Nevertheless, without letting us go to easy generalizations, the ideal altitude range for the Barbaresco seems to be between 200 and 350 meters.

GEOLOGY OF THE TERRITORY

Although the territory of Barbaresco seems to be large, the total area of vines planted with nebbiolo for Barbaresco is not particularly large: just over 700 Ha (exactly 733 Ha in 2014), less than 40% of the size of Barolo.

The low percentage of this variety compared to the global size of the area planted with vines is not surprising, as Nebbiolo is one of the most prestigious and aristocratic varieties in Italy, but also one of the most demanding in terms of soil and climate exposure.

Nevertheless, the vineyards are the most important "monument" of this land, fascinating for those who come to visit and a source of pride for people who live there.

It is from these vineyards that are born some of the most important wines of Piedmont, Barbaresco among all, red wine prized that has earned the deserved Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin.

It is a wine produced from nebbiolo grapes, queen of the Langa vines for its objective genetic characteristics (aromatic complexity, tannic power and greater longevity), to which are reserved the hillsides exposed at noon of the 4 municipalities where Barbaresco is produced:

BARBARESCO - NEIVE - TREISO - FRAZIONE SAN ROCCO SENO D'ELVIO

The production and subsequent operations of winemaking and aging of Barbaresco are compulsory carried out within these 4 municipalities of Cuneo.

THE CLIMATE

From the climatic point of view, the Barbaresco area has typically continental characteristics, with winters that can be defined as rigid, during which there are also high snowfall. Summers are hot and humid, while the intermediate seasons are marked by rainfall and sudden changes in temperature between day and night.

As far as temperatures are concerned, the following values apply: Winter +2°, spring +10°, summer +20°, autumn +10°C.

Average temperatures range from 10°C to 25°C, although they are higher in summer and significantly lower in winter.

About atmospheric precipitation, the rains are characteristic of spring and autumn, snowfalls in winter, sunny days and thunderstorms in summer. Average rainfall is between 800 and 900 millimeters per year, with relatively low winds, these areas being "protected" to the south-west by the Maritime Alps and the Ligurian Apennines.

Even the fogs do not reach levels of great intensity: they are limited to foggy banks, produced by the Tanaro, which can reach the hills of the Barbaresco and fill the valleys