Francesco Baravalle of Cascina Bruciata Winery
Francesco Baravalle, enologist
That name--Cascina Bruciata--tells it all, I think. Of course it's just a suspicion, but I'm pretty sure I'm onto something here. What do I mean? To begin, "cascina" means "farm," or "farmstead." "Bruciata" means "burned." This is not just an issue of clever naming. It's the truth. In the late nineteenth century, a number of jealous farmers--envious of the land and its products--set the whole place on fire.
OK, I changed my mind. I'm now convinced. This validates my suspicion. That fire means something. It means that the soil possesses something special, something that the young and innovative Italian winemaker Francesco Baravalle has been able to unearth. With Francesco at the fore, Cascina Bruciata has continued its great tradition of wine making, producing in recent years some of the world's most extraordinary reds. I recently spoke with Francesco to get to know a bit more about him and the winery.
Nello: As you know, Nello's Italy's readers and fans love good wine! What can you tell us about Cascina Bruciata vineyards?
Francesco: Cascina Bruciata is a beautiful and classic example of people dedicating their entire life, for many generations, to land. Carlo Balbo, the owner, is a fourth-generation vine grower, a man that spends most of his life in the vineyards, focusing on respecting the vines in order to grow the best grapes for making a great wine. The vineyards are located in one of the most historic and prestigious cru of the Barbaresco DOCG wine region, the Rio Sordo.
When did you first realize your passion for not only wine, but for wine making, too? Can you tell me a bit about the path you followed to get where you are today?
When I decided to apply for the Viticulture and Enology degree at the University of Turin, it was just curiosity. I grew up watching my grandfather proudly making his own wine for the family and this taught me respect and interest for a world of culture and dedication. Studying agriculture and biochemistry, I realized how much wine-making is a science, involving many subjects and sensibilities. But the most fascinating thing to me was to discover that there are vineyards in many countries; wine shows the lifestyle and culture of the people where the wine is made. After my graduation in 2001, I realized it was time to discover some of this "new wine world." I spent several months in Germany in the Rheingau region, then in Western Australia (Margaret River) and four years in the United States (Charlottesville, Virginia). Last year I decided, with my wife Sara, to return to my roots in Barbaresco, in the Langhe area.
OK, I changed my mind. I'm now convinced. This validates my suspicion. That fire means something. It means that the soil possesses something special, something that the young and innovative Italian winemaker Francesco Baravalle has been able to unearth. With Francesco at the fore, Cascina Bruciata has continued its great tradition of wine making, producing in recent years some of the world's most extraordinary reds. I recently spoke with Francesco to get to know a bit more about him and the winery.
Nello: As you know, Nello's Italy's readers and fans love good wine! What can you tell us about Cascina Bruciata vineyards?
Francesco: Cascina Bruciata is a beautiful and classic example of people dedicating their entire life, for many generations, to land. Carlo Balbo, the owner, is a fourth-generation vine grower, a man that spends most of his life in the vineyards, focusing on respecting the vines in order to grow the best grapes for making a great wine. The vineyards are located in one of the most historic and prestigious cru of the Barbaresco DOCG wine region, the Rio Sordo.
When did you first realize your passion for not only wine, but for wine making, too? Can you tell me a bit about the path you followed to get where you are today?
When I decided to apply for the Viticulture and Enology degree at the University of Turin, it was just curiosity. I grew up watching my grandfather proudly making his own wine for the family and this taught me respect and interest for a world of culture and dedication. Studying agriculture and biochemistry, I realized how much wine-making is a science, involving many subjects and sensibilities. But the most fascinating thing to me was to discover that there are vineyards in many countries; wine shows the lifestyle and culture of the people where the wine is made. After my graduation in 2001, I realized it was time to discover some of this "new wine world." I spent several months in Germany in the Rheingau region, then in Western Australia (Margaret River) and four years in the United States (Charlottesville, Virginia). Last year I decided, with my wife Sara, to return to my roots in Barbaresco, in the Langhe area.
Repeat after me: Barbaresco, Barolo, Baravalle!
Click on the tractor to travel to Cascina Bruciata.
What's a typical day like at the vineyard? What are some of the challenges an enologist faces?
In this period of the year, July, we are very focused on vineyard management. We are two months away from harvest time and it is crucial to be able to spend time in the fields to create the perfect balance between the green parts of the vines (the leaves and shoots) and what we produce, the grapes, in order to reach the best ripening possible. When not in the vineyards, I dedicate my time to promoting our wines through tasting and visits to our winery. Tourism is an aspect of my job that really fascinates me and gives me the opportunity to meet a lot of interesting people.
Speaking of tourism, I believe a great trip to Italy involves a trip to a great vineyard. How would Nello's Italy's readers spend a day at Cascina Bruciata Winery?
We are open daily from 9am to 6pm. There are several B&Bs in the area that we know and can suggest. Our contact information is available on our website. There, one can find a brochure, a bit of history about the winery, information on our wine-making philosophy, explore our wines and grapes, and even place an order.
Fantastic, Francesco! Thank you for talking with me. I'll see you at the table soon! Cheers!
Cascina Bruciata Winery, located in the praised Rio Sordo part of Barbaresco, Italy, which rests in the northern region of Piedmont, produces wines that regularly receive 90+ ratings by Wine Spectator magazine. Here's a list of their wines: Dolcetto d'Alba Vigneti in Rio Sordo; Dolcetto d'Alba Rian; Langhe Nebbiolo Usignolo; Barbaresco DOCG; Barbaresco Rio Sordo DOCG; Barbaresco Rio Sordo DOCG Riserva; and Barolo Cannubi-Muscatel. Click here to read the recent reviews by Wine Spectator (PDF). Cascina Bruciata wines have great structure, the vineyard's most representative wines being Barbaresco Rio Sordo, particularly its Riserva (94 points from WS!).