La Spinetta
ラ・スピネッタ
Pioneering Piedmontese family estate famed for single-vineyard Barbaresco, Barolo, and Moscato d'Asti.
La Spinetta was founded in 1977 in Castagnole Lanze by Giuseppe "Pin" and Lidia Rivetti, and is now run by their sons Giorgio, Carlo, and Bruno Rivetti. The estate first made its name with the very first single-vineyard Moscato d'Asti, before expanding into powerful, modern-style Barbaresco and Barolo. Its three single-vineyard Barbarescos — Gallina and Starderi in Neive, and Valeirano in Treiso — are vinified identically to let each site's terroir speak for itself. Giorgio Rivetti, the estate's owner and enologist, holds that 90% of winemaking happens in the vineyard, and wine should express its place of origin rather than the winemaker's hand. The rhinoceros on La Spinetta's labels, inspired by Albrecht Dürer's engraving, symbolizes the strength and unwavering direction the family brings to its craft. The winery has since expanded into Barolo (Campè, Vürsù), Tuscany, and Basilicata, while remaining fully family-owned, and by 2019 had received 38 Tre Bicchieri awards from Gambero Rosso — the third-highest total of any Italian winery.
www.la-spinetta.com/en/ ↗Cuvées
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Who Is This For?
For collectors of modern, powerful Italian fine wine who want to compare terroir side-by-side through La Spinetta's identically-vinified single-vineyard Barbarescos, and for anyone curious about the pioneers of serious single-vineyard Moscato d'Asti.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is La Spinetta best known for?
- La Spinetta is best known for producing the world's first single-vineyard Moscato d'Asti and for its powerful, modern-style single-vineyard Barbaresco and Barolo wines.
- What are La Spinetta's key single-vineyard Barbarescos?
- Gallina and Starderi come from the Neive commune, while Valeirano comes from Treiso. All three are vinified in exactly the same way in the cellar so that differences in the wines reflect differences in the vineyards, not winemaking choices.
- Why does La Spinetta use a rhinoceros as its symbol?
- Giorgio Rivetti chose the rhinoceros, inspired by Albrecht Dürer's Renaissance engraving, because he identifies with the animal's strength and its steady, unwavering forward progress once it has chosen a direction.
- What is the Rivetti family's winemaking philosophy?
- Giorgio Rivetti holds that 90% of winemaking happens in the vineyard, and that wine should express the terroir it comes from rather than the winemaker's personal signature.