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Climate Change and Quality in the Glass:Montalbera announces its 2026 red wines night harvest

Posted on August 27, 2026 by brusselsdiplomatic Leave a comment

The Piedmont winery combines ethical sustainability with winemaking precision: cooler nighttime temperatures help preserve the rich aromatic profile of its native grape varieties while ensuring safer working conditions for vineyard crews

Montalbera, one of Piedmont’s leading wine estates with vineyards across Monferrato and the Langhe, has officially announced that its 2026 red wines night harvest will begin on 6 September.

What began in 2023 as an experimental response to climate change has now become a cornerstone of the winery’s production philosophy, bringing together the highest expression of its native grape varieties—first and foremost Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG—with greater energy efficiency and a strong commitment to employee wellbeing.

“Climate change is forcing us to rethink the rules of the game and adapt more quickly than ever before,” says Franco Morando, General Manager of Montalbera. “Every harvest reflects an entire year of dedication, yet it is during the night that its most precious moment unfolds. Harvesting in the cooler hours allows us to bring grapes to the winery with their aromas, freshness and identity fully preserved. It is a choice that combines experience, respect for nature and people, and an uncompromising pursuit of quality.”

The star of the evening will be Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG Riserva Il Fondatore, the winery’s flagship wine and the ultimate expression of Montalbera’s heritage, vision and identity. The night will also mark the start of the harvest for Piemonte DOC Viognier.

Harvesting after sunset is a deliberate decision aimed at preserving the integrity and elegance of every berry, safeguarding its organoleptic qualities and ensuring that the fruit reaches the winery in optimal condition for vinification. The harvest is carried out entirely by hand and supported by a meticulously planned logistics operation, including mobile lighting systems installed along the vineyard rows. This approach guarantees maximum safety and comfort for vineyard workers while complying with the latest agricultural labour regulations.

From a winemaking perspective, night harvesting offers a significant advantage in preserving grape quality. Delivering fruit to the winery at naturally cool temperatures prevents unwanted spontaneous fermentation during transport while maintaining the structural integrity of the berries. The cool night air also protects the grapes’ delicate and complex aromatic profile, preserving the floral and spicy notes that have become hallmarks of Montalbera’s wines and contributed to their international acclaim.

With this strategic decision for the 2026 vintage, the Morando family once again confirms Montalbera’s pioneering approach—successfully combining the scale and strength of a market leader with the meticulous attention to detail traditionally reserved for every single bunch of grapes.

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AT THE DISCOVERY OF RUCHE’

Posted on April 4, 2013 by VinoeStile

Described as “a wine of character,” the Ruché of winemaker Montalbera of Castagnole Monferrato (AT) is one of the pleasantest surprises encountered in “Gusto in Scena”, the food and wine festival held last March 17 to 19 at the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista in Venice.

Produced in a territory that includes seven municipalities of Monferrato, Piemont territory famous for the quality of its wines, the Ruché – DOC and DOCG is a wine of exceptional softness, with a particular aroma of rose and violet and a fruity taste reminiscent of the flavor of apricot. All unusual features in a red Piedmont, which led him to be loved especially by women.

The origin is obscure, the best hypothesis is that it comes from old vines by the Alta Savoia while the name thought come from “San Rocco”. A community of monks devoted to this saint, in fact, would probably have introduced the cultivation in the area. But the link with the religious of this variety does not stop there: forgotten for a number of years and at risk of extinction, has been rediscovered in the ’70s by the pastor of Castagnole Monferrato, Don Giacomo Cauda, which he found ten rows between the properties of the parish and decided to enhance it. “She has a perfect body – as he described it – and a balance of aromas, flavors and scents. Tasted with moderation frees the spirit and opens the mind …”

The Ruché is a red grape, with medium-small leaf, three-lobed (rarely lobed), pale green and hairless. The

Ruchè LACCENTO

cluster has cylindrical shape – pyramidal, elongated and compact. The ripening period coincides with the end of September – beginning of October, greatly anticipating the ripening compared with other varieties typical of the area. Despite remarkable characteristics of adaptability, it prefers calcareous and argillaceous land, giving a bouquet of particular intensity and characterization.

The designation of origin includes the towns of Castagnole Monferrato, Grana, Montemagno,

Portacomaro Refrancore, Scurzolengo and Viarigi, all in the province of Asti. The regulations impose a 90% Ruché grapes, while the remaining 10% may also include Brachetto or Barbera grapes.

There are three interpretations of Ruché: La Tradizione, Laccento e Limpronta each with specific characteristics, result of a long trial. Just one of them, Laccento was recently winner of the Prize for the Best Italian Red Wine at eighth edition of the event SensofWine, held in Rome last January 2013.

Massimo Paccagnella

LEVOLUZIONE: a new star is born in the cantine Montalbera

Posted on October 12, 2012 by VinoeStile

A new product signed by cantine Montalbera is born: Levoluzione, Barolo DOCG.

The constant development of Montalbera wine estate began over thirty years ago with the purchase of the property in Castagnole Monferrato and continues unabated today with the acquisition of the best land plots, which have always suited to the wine production.

Back in the 2007 the purchase of certain parcels of vineyard in Castiglione Falletto (Cannubi side) and La Morra, in the famous Langa known in the world for the production of Barolo. This acquisition made the birth possible of a new quality product, a Barolo DOCG.

A wine that is meant to represent a modern vision of this extraordinary and ancient piedmontese wine, as modern are all wine “realities” signed Montalbera.

Levoluzione, the name of the latest creation Montalbera, was in fact created by the desire to offer a wine of absolute and unique tradition. Careful viticultural practices, meticulous selection of grapes and a maniacal pursuit of quality in wine, helped maintain perfectly intact the heritage the vineyard had created. Ageing in French oak barrels and traditional barrels for a period of three years, they finally allowed us to get to a result of rare and precious quality.

Levoluzione Barolo is perhaps less flamboyant but more powerful than other products, such as vigorous as the millennial history of this wine estate. Matured and designed to amaze and fascinate, Levoluzione will appeal to all lovers, fans and followers of this authoritative wine, but will be appreciated by those who approach for the first time a real noble and great wine.