Cascina Val del Prete is an organic winery in Priocca in the Roero region of Piemonte, Italy. Wines made include Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC, Roero Arneis DOCG, Roero DOCG and Barbera d’Alba DOC. 

History: The estate was bought in 1977 by Bartolomeo Roagna who was from Priocca d’Alba, and his wife Carolina. They had worked the estate previously as sharecroppers, adding vines to existing crops like grains and fruit orchards. It is now run by their son Mario.

The name: ‘Val del Prete’ translates as ‘valley of the priest’, referring to the Bishop of Asti who moved here in 1850 having been exiled.

Vineyards: 2017 8 hectares (19.8 acres). South facing slopes in a natural amphitheatre.

White wines

Roero Arneis DOCG, Bizzaro: From vines in Priocca (CN). 100% Arneis. 250 metres (820 feet). 5,000 vines per hectare (2,024 vines per acre). East-west facing. Barrel fermented with MLF.

Roero Arneis DOCG, Luet: ‘Luet’ means ‘little wolf’ in local dialect. From 1.5 hectares (3.7 acres) of 100% Arneis in Priocca.

Red wines

Barbera d’Alba DOC, Serra de Gatti: From vines in Priocca in  Cuneo Province. 250 metres (820 feet). South-east facing. On both sandy (acidic) and marl (alkaline) soil. 2016 100% Barbera. 14.5% alcohol. Fermented in stainless steel. Unoaked.

Barbera d’Alba DOC Superiore, Carolina | Named after Mario Roagna’s mother. From 5 hectares (12.35 acres) in Priocca (CN). 260 metres (850 feet). South-facing. Clay-marl and sand. | 2012 14.5%. 12 months in new oak barrels. Ripe, wild, deep, plus some VA at Villa Tiboldi 2017. 

Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC: 100% Nebbiolo in Cuneo, in the Roero on the left bank of the Tanaro. 1.2 hectares (3 acres). 280 metres (900 feet). South-facing. A mix of calcareous (70%) and sandy (30%) soil.

Roero DOCG, Bricco Medica: 100% Nebbiolo.

Roero DOCG, Vigna di Lino: 2013 100% Nebbiolo from the Bricco di Lino vinyared on the left bank of the Tanaro river. 280 metres (900 feet). 14%. Aged 16 months in old barrels.

Roero DOCG Riserva, Val del Prete: 2013 100% Nebbiolo. 14%. 24 months in new oak barrels.

Contact

Cascina Val del Prete

Via Santuario, 2

12040 Priocca (CN), Italy

Tel:+39 0173 616534 | Website: www.valdelprete.com

Bibliography

Villa Tiboldi 2017, Tasting hosted by Villa Tiboldi, Canale (CN), Italy, on 15 July during the Collisioni festival.