Elio Altare Larigi Langhe 2016

Elio Altare’s vision for a winery grew out of an orchard and his determination to do things differently. The family’s estate, established in 1948, originally consisted of five hectares of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto, along with peach, apple and hazelnut trees. It was a trip to Burgundy in 1976 that convinced Elio that things could be done differently and he set about shifting the focus of the farm from growing crops to establishing vineyards and making wine.

Family lore says that Elio “grabbed a chainsaw, as if it was a sword, and first he cut down the fruit trees in the orchard, then he chopped up the big old wooden tanks in the cellar into fire wood. This way he made room for his first brand new barrique”. Elio’s more traditional father didn’t agree with his son’s plan and the resulting fall out saw Elio disinherited – however, his determination prevailed and he slowly bought back the estate from his siblings and continued with his vision to make outstanding wines. Today, the estate is still very much a family affair, managed by Elio and his family and committed to making wines of elegance, finesse, and balance.