Cantina del Pino

Franca Miretti steers the historic Cantina del Pino with real panache. An architect by training, Franca possesses an instinctive talent for winemaking and, of course, learned a vast amount from her late husband Renato Vacca. Established in 1894 by Domizio Cavazza, nicknamed the ‘father of Barbaresco’, the estate was acquired by Renato’s family in 1912, but not until 1997 was it rechristened Cantina del Pino after its famous pinetree, a local landmark, found here. The Ovello vineyard, which encircles the winery, is one of the greatest crus in Barbaresco. Albesani, which is located in Neive, has clay-rich soil (Ovello issandier) and a warmer, southerly exposition, and the resulting wine tends to be more approachable in its youth. Franca’s superb village Barbaresco is a blend of four vineyards, predominantly Ovello and Gallina.