Welcome to Ceretto's new virtual space, created to inform wine lovers and friends about winery news, new releases and events and activities designed to encourage the appreciation of our wines.
2011 harvest
Though unexpectedly early, the 2011 harvest maintained expectations for quality, presenting us with an excellent vintage yet again this year. At Ceretto, we finished picking on September 30th, concluding the harvest with the Nebbiolo grapes from the Bricco Rocche Barolo vineyard in Castiglione Falletto.
The growing season was characterized by a rather usual Spring, with frequent rain in March even causing landslides in some areas. By April, however, temperatures were nearly 30°C, accelerating the vegetative cycle and prompting an earlier than normal flowering of the vines. The progression of the vineyards slowed in June and July, but a sudden increase in temperatures at the end of August led to an early beginning of harvest. The late summer heat also contributed to an excellent concentration of juice inside the grape berries.
The Arneis came in 10 days earlier (August 22nd) than average, but the grapes were perfectly healthy and mature, exhibiting lovely golden skins with light green reflections, typical of the variety. The must was sweet with a pleasant balance between acidity and perfumes. We began the harvest of Dolcetto in the final days of August, when the grapes had reached the perfect point of maturity. Even at the beginning phases of fermentation and maceration, the must was a vivid red color with violet reflections, offering inviting aromas and a bright acidity. The Barbera demonstrated excellent quality as well this year, each bunch carefully selected in the vineyard, producing an already perfumed and full-bodied must.
The Nebbiolo from vineyards less exposed to the intense August heat performed better this vintage. In the sunniest vineyards, we carried out an attentive selection of grapes, eliminating berries withered by the sun and heat. Sugar levels (potential alcohol), acidity and other important components yielded excellent results, and the evolution of color molecules (anthocyanins) and tannins were favored by the prolonged summer climate. The cooler nighttime temperatures characterizing the second half of September facilitated the development perfumes of rose and red fruit, typical of the variety.
Ceretto protagonist in the new Telecom Italia commercial featuring the Medusa Trio
The Ceretto Winery was the protagonist of the fifth appointment of the original publicity campaign, “Un’Impresa da Trio.”
The campaign is a play on words of “impresa,” meaning both company and undertaking, in reference to a particular Telecom Italia offer, Impresa Semplice, specifically for businesses. “Trio” refers to the well-known threesome of Italian comics, Trio Medusa. For the campaign, Telecom Italia and the Trio Medusa embarked on a trip along the Italian Peninsula to meet some of the businesspeople and companies subscribed to Impresa Semplice, stopping in Alba to meet with Roberta Ceretto.
The commercial is filmed at the magnificent Monsordo Bernardina Estate, among the vineyards and the historic cellar of the family winery. The Trio awarded Roberta the distinctive “braccio rosso” (literally “red arm,” representing the company’s “right-hand man” in the distinctive Telecom Italia color red), presented to business owners participating in the initiative.
The commercial was aired on LA7 during the month of September during the show “Otto e mezzo,” (“Eight thirty”) and can be viewed here:
Fall heats up with artistic projects bearing the Ceretto stamp
La Casa and the Studio d’Artista were enriched with the prestigious presence of Kiki Smith, artist in residence for the entire month of September. Kiki spent the month immersed in the splendid landscape of the Langa hills, working on several projects for which she’ll be spending the next few months in Piedmont. In November, during the most important weekend of the year for contemporary art in Torino, Ceretto will be offering their celebrated wines at the inaugural evening of the 18th edition of Artissima, the prestigious festival directed by Francesco Manacorda.
The event is an occasion to raise a glass to yet another year of promotion and support of the arts, in which the Ceretto family continues its dedication as patron and advocate of cultural projects. During the preview day of the festival, Ceretto will offer the 200 exhibitors at the fair the Dolcetto Rossana, a wine of friendship and Piedmontese cordiality, amiable, young and fresh, perfect for the atmosphere of meeting and inspiration that characterizes the event. http://www.artissima.it/
Winery Guests
The Ceretto family renews its regular appointment with important literary encounters, hosting two important figures in journalism and literature at the Monsordo Bernardina Estate: L’Italia che lavora, Working class Italy, conversations with Edoardo Nesi and Chiara Beria di Argentine.
IAt this delicate moment in the history of Italian politics and economic policy, the dialogue focused on small and large-scale stories of hard work and resistance, narrated by two distinguished voices: On Friday, September 30th, the Monsordo Bernardina Estate hosted Edoardo Nesi, winner of the literary prize Premio Strega 2011 with his book Storia della mia gente, (History of my People). The book tells the author’s personal story of the family textile business, and at the same time, the story of an entire city, Prato, in which globalization has taken over a system once founded on traditions and talents passed down through generations.
“This is the history of my people, not only the stracciaroli from Prato, but an entire region, happy and intelligent, sacrificed to globalization.”
Saturday, October 1st, journalist Chiara Beria di Argentine presented her latest book, edited by Mondadori, “Di profilo. Ritratti di italiani lontani dai riflettori”, (A Side View. Portraits of Italians Out of the Spotlight). Chiara talked about the Italians that are reinventing Italy, the professionals creating Italian excellence in various fields. She told stories of young and less young individuals not giving in to mediocrity, those who are able to bring to fruition, despite the obstacles, innovative projects in economic, scientific and cultural spheres.
Though unexpectedly early, the 2011 harvest maintained expectations for quality, presenting us with an excellent vintage yet again this year. At Ceretto, we finished picking on September 30th, concluding the harvest with the Nebbiolo grapes from the Bricco Rocche Barolo vineyard in Castiglione Falletto.
The Ceretto Winery was the protagonist of the fifth appointment of the original publicity campaign, “Un’Impresa da Trio.”
La Casa and the Studio d’Artista were enriched with the prestigious presence of Kiki Smith, artist in residence for the entire month of September. Kiki spent the month immersed in the splendid landscape of the Langa hills, working on several projects for which she’ll be spending the next few months in Piedmont.
The Ceretto family renews its regular appointment with important literary encounters, hosting two important figures in journalism and literature at the Monsordo Bernardina Estate: L’Italia che lavora, Working class Italy, conversations with Edoardo Nesi and Chiara Beria di Argentine.