Cascina Zerbetta Barbera del Monferrato 2009

Piedmont is the most "Frenchified" of all Italian wine regions. The long valleys of the Alpine foothills lead to easier travel to France's southern coast and inland than to the rest of Italy. It is perhaps for this reason that the Piedmontese have long practiced the most refined wine traditions of any Italian region. Terroir-based wisdom trickled down from early French masters (monks, typically) to this area.

The Cascina Zerbetta farm was established in 1998 when Paul, with his wife Annamaria, began their adventure of settling in a small plot of hills in Monferrato, Italy. The small company is family run, with Paul following each stage of production with respect for nature, and the Italian countryside. The Zerbetta's craftsmanship in the cellar, produce wines with tremendous value, and are inextricably linked to the soil and the cycle of seasons. The three hectares of vineyard are farmed using organic and biodynamic practices.