From underdog to bright star: The organic winery Pico Maccario focuses on special quality with many decisions in harmony with nature - and on wines that are not reproducible and beyond the mainstream.To be good is one thing. But the real goal is to become better and better. This could be the maxim of the top Piedmontese winery Pico Maccario. "We always have our sights firmly set on the next level," confirms long-time export manager Emiliano Morando. Because: "Never having the feeling that we have already reached our goal is the greatest incentive to constantly improve our work in the vineyard." The history of the winery begins in 1997, when the brothers Pico and Vitaliano acquired a plot of land in Mombaruzzo with 112 hectares of vines, 100 hectares of which are in the heart of the Barbera d'Asti DOCG area. The two decided to combine classicism and modernity on their winery - both in design and in the management of the vineyards and winemaking. "We are all about bringing passion, respect and pride for the land into the glass." So it's hardly surprising that organic certification was a given for the family, which is now in its third generation of living the love of winemaking. "Only respect for the environment and sustainability allow us to capture the highest expression of the terroir. Add to that cleanliness in the cellar, the professionalism of the team and the maintenance of high production standards, and we do justice to the gift Mother Nature gives us every year."
And they will. Because Pico Maccario has long since ceased to be the "new kid in town" of 25 years ago. In that quarter of a century that has passed since the early hours, the winery has grown up, come to terms with the traditional producers of the region and, with great humility and perseverance, carved out a significant place all its own. "We have become one of the historic leaders of the Barbera d'Asti DOCG." And this is thanks to all these values and the commitment to sustainable viticulture. But also because of the special, sandy and chalky sites such as Nizza DOCG, Lavignone Cru, Cannubi Boschis and Vigna Rionda Serralunga, where the grapes thrive under the best conditions in the midst of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Monferrato and Langhe area. Here, almost 90 percent Barbera is grown, Nebbiolo is in second place, and the grape varieties Moscato, Viognier and Sauvignon complete the circle.
In order to bring all this power of the vineyard as unadulterated as possible into the bottle and the glass, cellar master Giovanni Chiarle works mainly with stainless steel, large barrels, tonneaux or barriques when vinifying the wines - always in search of the highest quality and respect for the original characteristics of the grapes and the uniqueness of the terroir. A uniqueness that is also evident in many other moments at Pico Maccario, because not only do the bottle labels and the accompanying wooden crates show up colourfully here, but the rows of vines in the vineyards are also bordered by unique coloured pencil sticks that have long since become one of the winery's many unmistakable signs of recognition.
We cordially invite you to taste this great winery and the 2022 Lavignone at our German-speaking wein.plus:club online tasting 'Grillweine - weiß oder rot?' in July 2023. Places available for wine professionals and private wine fans are very limited.
You can also order this wine from the online shops listed in wein.plus:find+buy.