Ferraris

Luca Ferraris Castagnole Monferrato, Piedmont, Italy Luca Ferraris’s family has been making wine in Castagnole Monferrato, a tiny region in Piedmont located 50 km east of Turin and a stone’s throw from Asti, since 1921. It is best known for the cultivation of Ruché, a grape variety native to the region. Though Castagnole Monferrato was granted DOC status only in 1987, the Ferraris family have not altered their process in any way at all. Luca’s philosophy is to maintain his heritage, while learning from technological advances. He works the family’s 10 hectares sustainably; while he is not trying for certification, he would certainly qualify if it were something he cared to achieve. He has slowly built up the estate, acquiring parcels like Bric d’Bianc and planting indigenous varieties such as Ruché, Barbera, and Grignolino, as well as some Syrah and Viognier. Sustainable is more than a buzzword for Luca; he is passionately committed to working with sensitivity to the environment. It is very important to pass on the family’s traditions, the values his father and grandfather instilled in him. At the same time, however, he is eager to incorporate beneficial lessons from modern science as well. It is this combination of tradition and innovation that allows him to make wines of such character. Luca’s cellar is a visual synthesis of his philosophies. It is dramatic and deep, carved from the region’s unique tuffa, a soft chalky rock. The caverns were begun in 1430; work continued sporadically as the property changed hands, until the full cellar was completed by Luca’s grandfather. Temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks are used to ferment wines, which helps them to retain their immediate freshness. Maturation in large, old oak barrels helps to soften their texture.